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Ahok criticizes media for 'making fuss over his discretion'
Jakarta governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama has questioned the critics against his decision to demand 15 percent of additional contribution from the developers, who have won the reclamation projects in Jakarta Bay.
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Jakarta Governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama answers questions from journalists after being questioned by Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) investigators as a witness of a corruption case involving the Jakarta Bay reclamation project. (kompas.com/Abba Gabrillin)
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akarta Governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama has questioned critics of his decision to demand 15 percent of additional contribution from developers, who have won construction permits in the Jakarta Bay reclamation project.
He insisted that it was his discretionary right as a public official to decide that the existing regulation was good for development in the capital.
“I don’t get why the city council and the media make a fuss. They said that I’ve violated the regulation. Which regulation have I violated? Since the Dutch colonial period, the official has the right to make decisions,” Ahok said at City Hall on Tuesday.
Ahok had made agreements with several developers that had won permits that they had to pay the city administration 15 percent from the total sales of properties on the reclaimed islets as a contribution, in addition to handing over 5 percent of land to the government.
The regulation became controversial after the arrest of Muhamad Sanusi, a city councillor, who allegedly received bribes from major developer PT Agung Podomoro Land (APL). Purportedly. APL was seeking to cut the contribution to only 5 percent instead of 15 percent as stated in one of the two drafts bylaws on the reclamation that were being deliberated by the Jakarta City Council.
Citing a testimony from former APL CEO Ariesman Widjaja, Koran Tempo reported that the company had disbursed Rp 6 billion (US$440,690) for the city administration to fund the eviction of the Kalijodo red-light district in North Jakarta. Ahok and APL executives had denied the report.
He said his discretion on the issue was based on Presidential Decree No. 52/1995 on the reclamation in North Jakarta. He also cited a precedent from 1997, when the then-city governor also had made an agreement with PT Manggala Krida Yudha (MKY).
Previously, city councillor Prabowo Soenirman of the Gerindra Party said that the city administration would summon Ahok to explain his decision.
Ahok criticized the media for not following the corruption case involving Sanusi and instead debating his discretion.
With the 15 percent contribution from developers, the city would collect some Rp 100 trillion in the next five to ten years, which could be used by the city to develop urban infrastructure like light rail and a giant seawall, which is part of the National Capital Integrated Coastal Development (NCICD) project in North Jakarta, as well as to construct low-cost apartments.
“I’m confused why the mainstream media questions the legality of my permit for developers. If my permit is baseless, it’s not your business. Tell the businesspeople to sue me,” Ahok said. (bbn)
