Viral Turtle Statue Made From IDR 15 Billion Cardboard, Contractor Calls It According To Request

The construction contractor conveyed clarification about the damage to Taman Alun-Alun Gado Bangkong, which is on Jalan Kidang Kencana, Kelurahan/Kecamatan Palabuhanratu, Sukabumi Regency, West Java, which was not even a year after its inauguration.

"Our work is in accordance with the specifications specified and carrying out obligations according to the rules in the procurement of goods and services," said a representative from the contractor company PT Lingkar Persada KSO Imran Firdaus, quoted by ANTARA, Thursday, March 6.

According to the information gathered, the value of the square construction project and the turtle ornaments, which turned out to be only made from cardboard boxes and wood frames of Rp. 15.6 billion, came from the West Java Province Regional Revenue and Expenditure Budget (APBD) for the 2023 fiscal year.

This development project is an aid from the West Java Provincial Government to organize green open space facilities in the Palabuhanratu area, which is the capital city of Sukabumi Regency and is located in the Unesco Global Geopark area of Ciletuh Palabuhanratu.

The handover of the building from the West Java Provincial Government to the Sukabumi Regency Government was carried out in two stages, namely in February 2024 and August 2024.

However, it has not been completed for a year, many facilities in the square have been damaged as well as other ornaments such as turtle statues that were destroyed even though the manufacture cost up to Rp30 million. The statue seems to be made carelessly and uses cheap raw materials.

In fact, the Gadobangkong Square is one of the icons of Sukabumi Regency to support the international standard tourism Sukabumi Regency Government program.

Imran admitted that the project budget reached Rp. 15.6 billion but after deducting it with taxes and sanctions for delays in development, his party only received a budget of Rp. 13 billion or a decrease of around Rp. 2.6 billion.

During the maintenance period, his party has made various improvements, including examination of canteen buildings, repairing brushes, andesit to overcoming several facilities damaged by tidal flooding.

In addition, the viral turtle statue worth Rp. 30 million in the mass media which shows the raw material for the statue is made of cardboard, he explained that cardboard is not the main raw material, but only to make a turtle statue frame.

The materials used are in accordance with the project's budget plan (RAB), namely using fiberglass and coated with resin.

"Development is in accordance with specifications and we also hope that the community will participate in maintaining the existing facilities, considering the concept of this square as a green open space," he said.

Meanwhile, the Head of the Sukabumi Regency Environment Agency, Prasetyo, said that his party was still waiting for a budget from the Sukabumi Regency Housing and Settlement Service to repair facilities in the square.