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ermany-based cleaning equipment and technology provider Kaercher has been entrusted to clean the National Monument (Monas) in Central Jakarta next month.

The clean up, which will begin on May 5 and continue until May 18, will be the second time Monas has been cleaned since it was inaugurated in 1975. The monument, which broke ground in 1961, was first cleaned in 1992

The general manager of Kaercher Indonesia, Roland Staehler, said in a press conference in Jakarta on Wednesday that his company would clean the 123-meter high monument as part of its corporate social responsibility (CSR) program.

'€œWe conducted a test back in October 2011 on the 39-year-old monument. We will comply with the specifications outlined regarding the required care and attention, with due respect to not only its preservation but also its cultural and historical significance,'€ he said.

Staehler said his company would use experts from Germany, to ensure a high standard.

'€œWe will not use any chemicals; only a hot water jet wash, set to a gentle pressure, so the process will not harm the monument,'€ he said.

Jakarta Deputy Governor Basuki '€œAhok'€ Tjahaja Purnama acknowledged Kaercher Indonesia'€™s vast experience in cleaning important monuments around the globe.

'€œThe company wants to promote its products and we want to promote the monument,'€ he said referring to the project'€™s mutual benefits.

Ahok said that the company used images of other monuments as examples of project successes. '€œWhat I like is that the project is free and if something happens, they will still be held responsible,'€ he said while laughing.

The deputy governor said other companies would likely be jealous of Kaercher winning the project, therefore, they should take the initiative and gain their own exposure.

'€œWe still have many other public spaces like museums and train stations, so feel free to help clean public assets under the CSR program,'€ he said.

Ahok said many companies had offered to clean the monument before but he had refused their offers.

'€œI don'€™t want the monument to be a '€˜training ground'€™,'€ he said.

Monas management head Rini Hariani said the monument would not be closed during the process.

'€œWe will only close the obelisk and bowl-like parts. The room with the Proclamation of Independence will still be accessible,'€ she said.

Rini said her management was not worried about visitor numbers.

'€œWe have around 2,000 to 2,500 visitors during the week and more on holidays,'€ she said, adding that when the peak was closed to visitors, due to the lift being replaced, there had been little change in ticket sales.

The Jakarta administration is also trying to beautify the grounds around the monument and last year allocated Rp 60 billion (US$5.31 million) to the purpose.

It has also planned to develop an underground parking lot with three levels, a mass rapid transit (MRT) station and tunnels to connect the underground spaces to City Hall and Gambir Station. In addition, an outdoor amphitheater is planned.