"I would like to study the matter first. Give me two weeks` time to do so," Panjaitan said.
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Newly appointed Maritime Affairs Minister Luhut Binsar Panjaitan will study the case surrounding the Jakarta Bay reclamation project.

The reclamation case was debated when Rizal Ramli served as minister of maritime affairs.

"I would like to study the matter first. Give me two weeks time to do so," Panjaitan remarked after the handover of post here on Thursday.

Panjaitan said he did not want to hastily decide whether the reclamation could continue before studying matters related to the legal case and visiting the G Island where the reclamation was canceled in June.

On June 30, the then coordinating minister for maritime affairs Ramli announced the cancellation of the G Island reclamation project in Jakarta Bay, saying that its implementation was a serious offense and endangered the environment and sea traffic.

At the time, Ramli noted that the project being developed by PT Muara Wisesa Samudera, a subsidiary of PT Agung Podomoro Land, was categorized as a serious offense, as the state electricity company PT PLNs electrical cables ran under the island projects site.

Therefore, Panjaitan, Ramlis successor, also said he wanted to invite those who had conducted a feasibility study on the reclamation of Jakarta Bay for a comprehensive evaluation to determine the continuation of the project for the community and investment opportunities.

"Probably next week, my team and I will visit the G Island to obtain first-hand information on the field. We need to maintain investor confidence, lest we make a mistake that is detrimental to them. That is unfair," Panjaitan remarked.(*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
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