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Amid Jakarta Bay controversy, Luhut says the ball's in Anies' court
Coordinating Maritime Affairs Minister Luhut Pandjaitan said Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan must review all relevant regulations before making any decision in relation to the controversial Jakarta Bay reclamation project.
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An aerial view shows the reclamation of islets C and D in Jakarta Bay, on the northern coast of the city. Environment and Forestry Minister Siti Nurbaya has said she will soon revoke administrative sanctions on PT Kapuk Naga Indah, the developer of the islets. (The Jakarta Post/Rendi A. Witular)
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oordinating Maritime Affairs Minister Luhut Pandjaitan said Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan must review all relevant regulations before making any decision in relation to the controversial Jakarta Bay reclamation project.
He said as the city’s leader, it was up to Anies to decide whether the project would continue, however, he must make a decision in line with regulations.
“He should be rational and not let politics influence his decision,” he said on Tuesday.
(Read also: Anies-Sandiaga must continue reclamation project)
Luhut said that while his authority as a coordinating minister was limited, Anies could not make arbitrary decisions.
He said the governor should take into account a 2008 presidential regulation (Perpres) on spatial planning in Greater Jakarta that guides land development. He also cited Perpres No. 122/2012 on coastal reclamation and small islands, which stipulates the central government has the authority to issue reclamation permits for islands of more than 25 hectares.
While campaigning for the Jakarta gubernatorial election, Anies vowed to stop the project, saying it was environmentally unfriendly and would disrupt the livelihoods of fisherfolk. He also said he would initiate further studies on land reclamation with independent researchers.
Luhut’s undersecretary on infrastructure, Ridwan Djamaludin, said the central government would welcome new studies from credible researchers. “We’ll listen to experts,” he said. (dis/wit)
