"Although there is a new study by the Public Works Ministry to cut the budget for the planned tower, our stance remains the same - we reject it," Edhie Baskoro, secretary of the Gerindra faction in the House, said here Monday.
He said because of the faction`s consistency in rejecting the plan, one of the House`s leaders had insinuated that after the tower had been completed, the Gerindra faction had better not move into the new building.
Edhie on the other hand ridiculed the attitude of the other House factions that had stated they did not approve of the new building but could accept it on condition an evaluation was made of its present design and budget. "This actually is the same as saying they agree," he said.
He said the Gerindra faction disapproved of the new tower project because it was a luxury building that was incompatible with the position of House members as representatives of the people.
Meanwhile, according the results of the study and a recalculation conducted by the Public Works Ministry, the budget for the new tower should be lowered from Rp1.138 trillion to Rp 777 billion.
The design of the building should also be changed and its height reduced from 36 to 29 storeys while its facilities should be made more simple, for instance, there was no need for a swimming pool.
The House`s plan to build a new tower had recently been the topic of a high-profile and public controversy with most civil society elements as well as many House members voicing their strong opposition to it. (*)
R024/HAJM/S012
Editor: Jafar M Sidik
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
