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New Bekasi regent silent on Meikarta's fate
While leading the inauguration ceremony at Gedung Sate in Bandung, West Java Governor Ridwan Kamil urged Bekasi regent Eka Supria Atmaja to maintain his integrity.
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Newly inaugurated Bekasi regent Eka Supria Atmaja (left) shakes hands with West Java Governor Ridwan Kamil during his inauguration ceremony at Gedung Sate in Bandung, West Java, on Wednesday. (Courtesy of the Bekasi regency administration/-)
Newly inaugurated Bekasi regent Eka Supria Atmaja remained tight-lipped when asked about the fate of the corruption-riddled Meikarta project after his inauguration on Wednesday.
Eka, who had been deputy Bekasi regent since 2017, took over the regent post to replace Neneng Hasanah Yasin, who was found guilty in a bribery case pertaining to Meikarta and was sentenced to six years in prison and ordered to pay a Rp 250 million (US$ 17,600) fine by the Bandung Corruption Court on May 29.
Eka testified in court during Neneng’s trial but was cleared of any wrongdoing.
Four other officials in the Bekasi regency administration also received jail time, while a senior Meikarta executive, Billy Sindoro, was sentenced to three-and-half years in prison.
While leading the inauguration ceremony at Gedung Sate in Bandung, West Java Governor Ridwan Kamil urged Eka to maintain his integrity.
“There are temptations. If one’s integrity isn’t strong, they will fall. I pray so it will not happen a second time,” Ridwan said.
He added that he would make an inquiry to the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) regarding the status of the Meikarta project.
Meikarta, the $21 billion-project flagship project of the Lippo business group, is planned to be a new town in Cikarang, 51 km southeast of Jakarta. Billed as the “Shenzen of Indonesia” after the huge Chinese satellite city across from Hong Kong, the plan is transform a 5,400 hectare area into center for automotive and electronic industries that will also include five-star hotels, shopping malls and universities.
Despite the negative publicity surrounding the corruption scandal and reports of financial difficulties, the company has proceeded with the project, fulfilling its obligations to the 32,000 people who signed up to buy the first available apartments. The first tenants will be able to move in this September. (dmy)
