W

est Java Governor Ridwan Kamil says his administration will review the Meikarta township project in Bekasi regency following the arrests of several people by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) for alleged bribery.

The governor took to social media on Sunday, saying he would “immediately conduct a comprehensive and fair review of Meikarta”.

However, talking to journalists in Bandung on Monday, Ridwan said he had not been able to make any decisions as he had not received information about the project.

“What I am doing right now is asking for information regarding the provincial administration’s recommendation on the project. Once we have our hands on the information, we will make our official statement regarding Meikarta.”

He was referring to a recommendation for a land-use permit issued in November last year by the provincial administration for 85 hectares for the project from an initial request from the Bekasi regency of 147 ha for Meikarta. The West Java administration, at that time under the leadership of Ahmad Heryawan and Deddy Mizwar, claimed to have found no problem with spatial planning for the 85 ha site.

The KPK has named nine suspects, including Bekasi Regent Neneng Hasanah Yasin and Lippo Group executive Billy Sindoro, in the alleged bribery case concerning the issuance of property permits for Meikarta, a flagship project of diversified conglomerate Lippo Group, being constructed by its subsidiary PT Mahkota Sentosa Utama (MSU).

Denny Indrayana, a lawyer representing MSU, said the company would continue with the construction of the Meikarta project.