Indonesia to suspend land reclamation in north Jakarta

Keeping the water out: Children playing along a dike protecting the community from sea water intrusions as construction of the Jakarta sea wall begins in the northern coastal district of Jakarta.

JAKARTA: Indonesia's government will temporarily halt all land reclamation in north Jakarta until regulatory and environmental conditions are met, a senior cabinet minister said on Monday.

A mega project involving 17 artificial islands off the northern coasts of the Indonesian capital has been dogged by bureaucratic wrangling, a bribery probe by the nation's anti-corruption agency and opposition from environmentalists. 

The central government and the Jakarta governor had previously clashed over who has the authority to issue permits for the project. Some fishermen also staged a protest over the weekend, claiming the project was reducing their catch.

Construction will now be suspended and a joint committee will be formed to look into the issues, Rizal Ramli, Indonesia's coordinating minister for maritime affairs, told reporters.

"In analysing, discussing and resolving this problem, we cannot be too emotional," he said, flanked by Jakarta Govenor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama and Indonesian Environment Minister Siti Nurbaya at a joint press conference.

The decision could delay Indonesian property developer PT Agung Podomodo Land's multi-billion-dollar project called Pluit City, which was set to comprise apartments, offices and shopping malls on parts of the artificial land.

Earlier this month, Agung Podomoro executive Ariesman Widjaja was named a suspect by Indonesia's Corruption Eradication Commision (KPK) for allegedly bribing a member of the Jakarta provincial assembly to influence the regulation for the land reclamation. 

As of Monday's close, Agung Podomoro shares were down around 13 percent since the KPK's announcement.

A presidential spokesman declined to comment on the reclamation project, deferring questions to the ministries. – Reuters