Prabowo Wants to Build a 40-Floor MUI Building at HI Roundabout, Pramono Soroti the Status of a Cultural Heritage

DKI Jakarta Governor Pramono Anung/PHOTO: Diah Ayu-VOI

JAKARTA - The Governor of DKI Jakarta responded to President Prabowo Subianto's plan to build a 40-story Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) building on the former British Embassy land, the Bundaran Hotel Indonesia (HI) area, Central Jakarta.

Pramono admitted that the land was known to have been designated as a cultural heritage building. The determination of the cultural heritage status was contained in the Decree of the Governor of DKI Jakarta Number 1960 of 2016 Determining the Former British Embassy Building as a Cultural Heritage Building.

With this status, every development plan in the area is bound by the provisions of heritage building protection.

"As is known, it has been designated as a provincial heritage," said Pramono when met in Duren Sawit, East Jakarta, Monday, February 9.

According to Pramono, if the construction continues, then the entire process must follow the applicable rules without neglecting the principle of preserving cultural heritage.

"So, if there must be a building, of course the rules that we have to run, but do not violate the principles and directions taken by the President to build the building," said Pramono.

On the one hand, Pramono acknowledged that the main authority for the construction of the building was in the hands of the central government. So, in this case, the DKI Jakarta Provincial Government will play a role in fulfilling technical requirements and support in the field.

"For development matters, of course, it is the authority of the central government, but the field requirements, the DKI Jakarta Government will provide support for that," he said.

Previously, President Prabowo Subianto stated that he had prepared land measuring approximately 4,000 square meters in the Bundaran Hotel Indonesia (HI) area, Central Jakarta, for the construction of a building that would be used by the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) and various Islamic institutions.

This was conveyed by Prabowo when giving a briefing on the agenda for the inauguration of the MUI management for the 2025-2030 period at the Istiqlal Mosque, Jakarta, Saturday, February 7.

"I can say that I as the President of the Republic of Indonesia, I have provided land in front of HI roundabout of approximately 4,000 meters for a building for the MUI and for Islamic bodies," said Prabowo.

Prabowo explained that the building was planned to be a center for the activities of a number of Islamic institutions, including the National Zakat Agency (Baznas) and Islamic community organizations that need office space.

He said the plan to build a building as high as 40 floors was a follow-up to the request of the Grand Imam of the Istiqlal Mosque and Minister of Religion Nasaruddin Umar, who previously said that the MUI office currently did not have a representative location.

"I'm sorry. I don't know exactly where the MUI office is. But later the offices of Islamic institutions will be in the heart of the capital city of Jakarta," he said.

In addition, Prabowo also touched on the plan to establish a fund management institution for the community. "If I'm not mistaken, a fund management institution for the community will be formed," he continued.