TIM Revitalization Completed But Planetarium Hasn't Operated, Old Projectors Are Still The Cause

The new face of the Planetarium at Taman Ismail Marzuki (TIM) Cikini Jakarta. (doc. Disbud DKI)

JAKARTA - Head of the DKI Jakarta Culture Service (Kadisbud) Iwan Henry Wardhana admitted that until now the Planetarium and Observatory Jakarta (POJ) at Taman Ismail Marzuki (TIM) Cikini have not been able to operate.

The planetarium is still closed even though the revitalization of the TIM area by BUMD Jakpro has been running since 2019. The function of the Planetarium has not yet become a complaint for a number of parties.

The Planetarium operation was not also opened, especially the Star Theater, a simulation show arena for the celestial body. As for the cause, Iwan said that due to the show projector or star ball it was damaged and had not been replaced with a new one.

"Actually, the exterior and interior revitalization in the Planetarium is 100 percent complete, only the main facility, namely the star ball, was damaged," said Iwan when met at DKI Jakarta City Hall, Tuesday, April 4.

Iwan explained, the projector for the old Planetarium show or old age. The simulation projector for the show of celestial objects is the 1997 version. Now, the spare parts or spare parts of the starball itself are getting rarer.

Therefore, Iwan said PT Jakarta Propertindo was asking for a vendor to bring back a suitable performance projector installed at the Jakarta Planetarium.

"Indeed, there is only one vendor because it is very special. So, Jakpro is making an effort to approach it. We also hope a lot, because many people want to enjoy Planterium," he explained.

It was revealed that currently most of the facilities of the Planetarium and the Jakarta Observatory (POJ) are not functioning after the revitalization of the TIM which disbursed the Rp1.4 trillion budget.

In a letter of complaint from the advisory board of governors in the arts and culture sector who are members of the Jakarta Academy, it was stated that the condition of POJ after the revitalization of the TIM by PT Jakarta Propertindo BUMD actually reduced the function of the Planetarium.

One of them is the condition of the facilities at the Star Theater. During the revitalization of the TIM, Jakpro replaced a new seat that was not even suitable for performances. Then, the projectors at the Star Theater that were damaged were also not repaired.

Then, the exhibition room of the Planetarium is currently empty. The lobby for visitors to the Planetarium is getting narrower. The second showroom, classroom, and library within the Planetarium are removed.

In addition, repairs to the Planetarium buffer building area destroyed the function of the observatory. For example, the observatory for the Takahashi telescope was destroyed and the dome was unclear where it was, as well as observatory access for the ASKO telescope covered with walls.