Jokowi Never Consents to New Parliament Building: Minister

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta – Administrative and Bureaucratic Reform Minister Yuddy Chrisnandi has asserted that President Joko Widodo has never approved of the plans to construct a new building for the House of Representatives. Yuddy said the president only gave the green light to the establishment of a museum and a laboratory at the House complex.

“During the consultation meeting, the one that was approved was the construction of a museum and a laboratory, as opposed to a new parliament building. I think this must be confirmed with the House speaker,” Yuddy said at Halim Perdanakusuma Airport on Sunday, April 26, 2015.

He said the museum and the laboratory would be built inside the House complex, rather than having new buildings. “Even if they were built, they would be there through renovation work, as efficient as possible,” he said.

Separately, House speaker Setya Novanto said the president had given the consent to build a new building for lawmakers. Setya made the statement when delivering a speech to close the House’s third session meeting for 2014-2015 at the parliament building on Friday.

The plans to construct a new parliament building have stirred controversies since they were first introduced in 2010, before finally scrapped in May 2011 following outcries from multiple parties. Today the House claims it has secured presidential consent for the Rp1.16 construction. 

TIKA PRIMANDARI