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Ahok frustrated over delay of ex-UK embassy land acquisition
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The former British Embassy is located near the Hotel Indonesia (HI) traffic circle in Central Jakarta. The city administration plans to purchase the land and transform it into a city park. (beritajakarta.com/-)
T
he delayed acquisition of a plot of land formerly used as the embassy of the United Kingdom, in Central Jakarta, has awaken the wrath of Jakarta Governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama.
The planned purchase was announced by Ahok in 2013, however, till today the City Administration's Parks and Cemeteries Agency has failed to come through.
Ahok's anger soared when UK Ambassador to Indonesia Moazzam T Malik approached the governor on April 7.
Malik had questioned Ahok for an update on the acquisition plans, where reportedly Deutsche Bank has also conveyed interest to purchase the land at a higher price.
"I was enraged. How grand of the Parks Agency to make the Ambassador and the UK 'beg' to the Jakarta City Administration for not having bought the land yet," said Ahok on Wednesday as quoted by kompas.com.
The governor has threatened to fire the Parks and Cemeteries Agency official for not having finalized the plans despite it already been included in the 2016 city budget.
Ahok says the agency may be purposefully delaying the purchase due to personal interest in acquiring commission from the land.
"If by May it is still not yet paid for, I will fire all of you," Ahok said.
Jakarta Parks and Cemeteries Agency head Ratna Diah Kurniati was present during a meeting between Ahok and Malik recently. According to a source who spoke to kompas.com, Ratna was witnessed to have been visibly upset when Ahok berated her.
The UK Embassy has promised President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo to sell the land to the government. The value of the land and buildings, which are estimated to be worth around Rp 500 billion (US$37.82 million), are to be transformed into a city park.
Meanwhile, the UK Embassy has relocated to the Patra Kuningan neighborhood on Jl. HR Rasuna Said in South Jakarta.
In October 2013, while he was still vice governor, Ahok said the area surrounding the Mandarin Hotel, which is located near the Hotel Indonesia (HI) traffic circle is supposed to be a park, as proposed by Indonesia's first president, Sukarno.
In accordance to the proposal, Ahok aims to realize the former president's vision and fill the heart of the city with lush greeneries and gardens.
"The main point is, the concept of [the location of the former UK Embassy] is to turn it into a park first of all. Regarding to Bung Karno's concept of the HI traffic circle, there should be a park surrounding the area. Just imagine in the middle of the circle, there is a park. That would be great," said Ahok at the time. (liz/bbn)
