REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, MERAK -- President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, whose term in office ends on October 20, 2014, has not funded the planned construction of Sunda Strait Bridge (JSS), a government official said.

"We have yet to allocate funds for the construction of Sunda Strait Bridge (JSS)," Chief of the National Development Planning Agency (Bappenas) Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana said, when receiving a military commission from the Navy at Indah Kiat port on Saturday.

The Sunda Strait Bridge is part of the government's Master Plan for the Acceleration and Expansion of Indonesian Economic Development (MP3EI).

President Yudhoyono?s government had hoped to begin the long-delayed construction of the bridge, which will join Java and Sumatra islands. However, the project has not started.

In February 2014, the government decided that the construction of the Sunda Strait Bridge would be left to the next administration. It was also announced that no state money would be spent on the mega-project.

Armida said she was not aware of whether the next government, under the leadership of President-elect Joko "Jokowi" Widodo, would continue the project.

"We hope the new government will begin construction of Sunda Strait Bridge to support the economy of Sumatra and Java islands," she said.

Meanwhile, acting Banten governor Rano Karno expressed the hope that the new government will begin the project.

"We are ready to meet with the new president to discuss the construction of the Sunda Strait Bridge," he said.

Ikuti Whatsapp Channel Republika