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Golkar Takes Maverick Stand on Taman Ria Mall
Jakarta Globe | July 24, 2010

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The Golkar Party has rubbed against the grain of public sentiment yet again, this time by supporting a controversial plan to build a mall in the Taman Ria Senayan area on the fringe of the parliamentary complex.

“If Golkar went along with what everyone else was saying about the project, the government would have its way and there would be no one to keep it in check,” Golkar secretary general Idrus Marham said on Friday.

In July 2008, the State Secretariat handed Taman Ria over to private developer PT Ariobimo Laguna Perkasa on a 25-year build-operate-transfer contract.

The developer has torn down buildings that used to house restaurants and bars and is awaiting a building permit and an environmental impact analysis (Amdal) before it begins construction.

But House members have expressed anger over the plans, accusing Jakarta Governor Fauzi Bowo of insensitivity toward the growing problems of traffic in the area and the lack of green spaces in the capital.

Both the central government and the Jakarta government have since supported the House’s rejection of the mall plan.

“Let’s not be whimsical,” Idrus said. “Back then no questions were asked when the developer built the restaurants, so why are we kicking up a fuss now, even though the terms of the contract are the same?”

Ariobimo said it had already invested Rp 300 billion in the project. It planned to leave 90 percent of the area as green space and develop only 10 percent.

“Our objective is to help maximize the value of this state asset,” said Ariobimo managing director Kurnia Ahmadi. “It will create jobs and eventually result in a recreational area that everyone can enjoy.”