"Megawati has agreed to inaugurate the `Bung Karno Monument` on Saturday. Hopefully, there is no obstacle and everything will proceed smoothly," said KA Tajuddin, Head of Department of Communication and Information of Bangka Belitung province, on Tuesday.
According to him, the inauguration of the monument was previously planned to coincide with the launch of the provincial general hospital of Bung Karno.
"Unfortunately, Indonesia�s Minister of Health, Dr Nafsiah Mboi, was unable to attend the event because she had to attend an important seminar that day. That`s why the launch of the Bung Karno Hospital had to be postponed," he explained.
The Monument of Bung Karno was built in front of the Bung Karno Hospital in Air Anyir village of the Bangka district.
"The height of the Sukarno statue is 14 metres and it stands in front of the hospital. The statue looks dashing and points towards the Air Anyir Beach," said Tajuddin, describing the Bung Karno Monument.
He believes that the statue and the hospital will attract tourists to the Bangka Belitung province.
"Besides, the Bung Karno Hospital has facilities, just like other hospitals in the capital city. The coastal scenery adds to the beauty of the hospital," he added.
Tajuddin said that the hospital has been named after Sukarno, in appreciation of his services during Indonesia`s independence. Sukarno`s relationship with the Bangka Belitung Island is deep, as it is the exact place where he was exiled by the Dutch, during the revolution era.
(Y012/O001)
Editor: Suryanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2012
