B

ekasi's Bantar Gebang, Jakarta's main dumpsite, was given a face lift in the past few days following presidential candidate Megawati Soekarnoputri and running mate Prabowo Subianto's decision to use the site as the location for their presidential bid declaration Sunday.

Since Monday, preparations have been underway for the declaration ceremony, which the event committee claimed was a "modest prep."

On Friday, workers were seen installing a stage where the pair would make their declaration for the July presidential election.

The event will be held on a vacant lot located about 500 meters from the waste disposal facility and hundreds of meters away from trash pickers' slum dwellings.

A pathway - made out of paving blocks - leading to the stage was specifically built for the occasion, in front of which a tent of about 1,000 square meters was erected to accommodate ceremony attendees.

Tumai, the event's field coordinator, said preparations were almost complete, as the workers last task was to cover the muddy area with sand and stones. The work should be completed by Saturday, he said.

"This place will remain the way it's always been, as Ibu Mega and Pak Prabowo requested. We will not set up any lavish decorations."

"Besides, this area has been vacant for months, as the provincial administration is planning to build a waste processing site here, so we might as well make use of it."

The area belongs to PT Godang Tua Jaya, the company that manages the landfill site estimated to receive some 6,500 tons of garbage per day from the Greater Jakarta area.

He said the committee spent less than Rp 50 million preparing the event. Most of the logistics and materials - including tents, stage, chairs, sand and stones - came mostly from party supporters.

"I think this might be the most humble declaration ceremony *compared to those organized by other presidential candidates*," said Tumai, a PDI-P member from the Bekasi chapter.

The event committee member Heri said the area would not be sanitized or given any special treatment to get rid of the unpleasant smell.