The city administration’s plan to preserve Menteng, Central Jakarta, as cultural heritage site has been met by criticism from the area’s residents, who say the plan is highly problematic.“If the authorities wish to make Menteng a cultural heritage area, then they should first carry out a public hearing with the area’s residents, since individuals with property rights should be treated as partners, and not subjects,” said Menteng resident Ibrahim Hubeis at a recent community gathering that discussed the administration’s plan to prohibit the altering of houses in the area. Menteng’s skyrocketing property taxes were also discussed. Instead of burdening residents with taxes and rules, authorities should support their efforts to preserve their homes, Ibrahim said, “The administration should subsidize the maintenance of preserved houses.”Menteng was built in the 1910s as a �...

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