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Ahok squares up to Susi
Basuki Tjahaja Purnama (Tribunnews
Basuki Tjahaja Purnama (Tribunnews.com/Adi Suhendi) (Tribunnews.com/Adi Suhendi)
Basuki Tjahaja Purnama (Tribunnews.com/Adi Suhendi)
Jakarta Governor Basuki 'Ahok' Tjahaja Purnama has challenged Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister Susi Pudjiastuti to a debate on the Jakarta city administration's plan to carry out reclamation of G Island off the shore of North Jakarta.
Tribunnews.com reported on Saturday that the governor had insisted that his authority was equal to ministerial authority.
'In the law on Jakarta as the special capital region, the governor is equal to the minister. If a minister issues a circular that contradicts a city bylaw, the bylaw wins. Why should we follow a ministerial circular? We have our own spatial bylaw,' said the governor.
Ahok said reclamation had been successfully carried out in Singapore, the Netherlands, China, Hong Kong and Vietnam.
The governor argued that the reclamation was needed to house the increasing population.
Meanwhile, Susi said on Wednesday that her ministry's research and development department had commissioned a study that had found that the reclamation could degrade the environment.
According to Susi, an environment impact analysis (Amdal) could only be issued after an inter-institutional study to make sure that the project would not violate regulations or cause environmental damage.
She argued that as the reclamation work was to be carried out at sea, her ministry needs to be involved. She added that even if an Amdal had already been carried out, it was invalid because her ministry had not approved the project.
Meanwhile, the Indonesian Traditional Fishermen's Union (KNTI) has taken legal action against the reclamation plan. The union challenged Gubernatorial Decree No 2.238/2014 on the issuance of a reclamation permit for PT Muara Wisesa Samodra, which has started the reclamation work.
KNTI Jakarta chapter chairman Muhammad Taher said that if the reclamation were carried out, fishermen would be the first party negatively affected. 'We are affected by the reclamation. It will be more difficult to catch fish,' Taher said. (bbn)(++++)
