REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- Vice President Jusuf Kalla reiterated that the construction of new reclaimed islets at Jakarta bay will not be continued. However, the existing project will be carried on.
Kalla explained, it will be costly to demolish reclaimed islets. He said, the cost could be a lot more bigger than its construction fund.
"It's impossible to demolish reclaimed islets. Existing islets should be completed. The islets will be damaged if we did not utilize it," he said at his office, Tuesday.
Kalla said, he already discussed Jakarta bay reclamation with governor Anies Baswedan. He asked, the reclaimed islets to be more beneficial for the public and government.
Meanwhile, Jakarta provincial government stated new islets would not be built. Deputy governor Sandiaga Uno said, the decision on Jakarta bay reclamation is final.
He said, Jakarta provincial governor is still waiting to communicate with the Jakarta Regional Legislative Assembly (DPRD) to harmonize future plans. He hoped, the meeting could be held next week. "We have met informally, but our commitment is to stop reclamation," he remarked.
Jakarta provincial government has been trying to make a strategic environmental assessment (KLHS), including on the usage of existing reclaimed islets.
Sandiaga said, the process of KLHS will be open, transparent, and fair. He welcomed suggestions to accomodate public interests.
He was aware that some reclaimed islet have already constructed. Some buildings also have been built without permission.
"It has become our homework to see its best usage," he said.
Alleged bribery
Jakarta bay reclamation project also caught the attention of Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK). Vice chairman of KPK Saut Situmorang admitted the anti-graft body is running an investigation of alleged bribery case on draft regional regulations on the North Jakarta Coastal Strategic Spatial Plan (RTRKSP) or Raperda Reklamasi.
The investigation was conducted to deepen the role of a corporate, namely PT Agung Podomoro Land (APL), which allegedly benefited from the bribe made by its former president, Ariesman Widjaja, to former DPRD member Mohamad Sanusi.
"I will take a look first, but the common sense is the connection (bribery Ariesman Widjaja to Jakarta city council member Mohamad Sanusi)," said Saut.
Saut said, in the investigation of corporate involvement related to the bribery case of Raperda Reklamasi, KPK will also see the loss of environmental damage arising from reclaimed islets projet.
"Do not forget that KPK enters from the state losses. How do we calculate state losses? Well, this is to be counted. We also calculate the loss suffered by fishermen. The calculation is not easy. The experts will find out how to count and the total loss," he said.
On Tuesday (Oct 31) afternoon, Jakarta deputy speaker Muhammad Taufik visited the KPK building. His arrival this time was allegedly related to the investigation of bribery case of Raperda Reklamasi.
Taufik went straight into the KPK building without giving any information.
Previously, on Friday (Oct 27), the KPK also examined the Secretary of DKI Jakarta Saefullah and several SKPD leaders of the city administration related to the reclamation project.
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