Already Bags Various Recommendations, Anies Bantah The HI Roundabout Bus Stop Langgar Cultural Conservation Procedures

DKI Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan (Photo: Diah Ayu/VOI)

JAKARTA - DKI Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan opened his voice regarding the revitalization of the HI Roundabout Bus Stop which was questioned because it was considered to have closed his eyes to the Welcome Statue. Anies denied that the HI Roundabout Bus Stop, whose revitalization work is almost complete, violated the procedure for preserving cultural heritage, namely the Welcome Statue and the HI Roundabout area in the vicinity which became the object of alleged cultural heritage (ODCB). "The administrative issues may be tested. If the administrative issues cannot be violated," said Anies while reviewing the HI Roundabout Bus Stop, Wednesday, October 12. Anies claimed that Transjakarta had obtained a recommendation letter from the Cultural Conservation Expert Team (TACB) and the DKI Jakarta Restoration Session Team (TSP) regarding the construction of a bus stop near the cultural heritage area. "Nothing was violated. There was even a letter. However, the letter was not only distributed. From TSP, eh TACB, there is a letter. The Culture Service, there are all of them," said Anies. The former Minister of Education and Culture said that his party would not dare to carry out development without following procedures. However, when the HI Roundabout Bus Stop was being questioned by a number of parties, Anies was still silent and did not want to speak up until now. According to him, the problem is only a matter of time to be resolved. "We are always, already, really, we don't have to always answer with an answer. Let's just prove it later, that's all. That's why I tend not to participate in polemics," he explained. For information, the revitalization of the HI Roundabout Bus Stop is in the spotlight after being protested by Jakarta historian JJ Rizal. According to JJ Rizal, the Welcome Statue has a high historical value. He explained that the statue at the HI Roundabout was by President Soekarno with Governor Henk Ntang and sculptor maestro Edhi Sunarso. " Transjakarta should respect the historical area, not even compete with Bung Karno as an architect who works with Abel Sorensen, a maestro who is a statue artist, and Governor Henk Don't depend on him. It's not appropriate to compete with them," said JJ Rizal. Then, the Head of the DKI Jakarta Restoration Session Team (TSP) Boy Bhirawa also revealed that the revitalization of the HI Roundabout Transjakarta Bus Stop violated the procedures for preserving cultural heritage because it did not go through the trial in the team. "It should have been all objects suspected of being cultural heritage through the Restoration Session Team," said Boy. Adapun kawasan Bundaran HI yang ditetapkan sebagai ODCB adalah Patung Selamat, airguman, dan jalan di sekitarnya. Meski masih berstatus diduga cagar budaya, kawasan Bundaran HI tetap harus diperlakukan cagar budaya. "The restoration area of the cultural heritage belongs to the public, it belongs to the real citizens of the city. Important areas that have indications of historicality or meaning in the city must remain in their position. So, it should not be covered up or damaged," said Boy.