Yuli Tri Suwarni, The Jakarta Post, Bandung
The West Java Legislative Council has raised questions over the legitimacy of a body set up to develop an international airport in the province.
The council's development affairs commission has questioned the legal basis of the West Java International Airport Management and Cooperation Body, demanding that Governor Danny Setiawan revise three decrees that led to the formation of the body.
Commission member Marudin Silalahi said the decrees did not provide legal certainty and failed to outline the job sharing responsibilities within the body.
"Most of the procedures, structures and personnel (of the airport body) come from outside the government, while the body is financed by the provincial budget," Marudin said Wednesday.
West Java hopes to construct its own international airport to accommodate residents and tourists, as well as to speed up the process of exporting goods produced in the province, particularly textiles, overseas.
The plan was first submitted to the central government in 2004, with the Transportation Ministry issuing a permit for the construction of the airport in Kertajati district, Majalengka regency, in May 2005.
Heri Hudaya, the head of the West Java provincial administration's program control agency, said the decrees, which were issued last year, could be revised. But in the meantime, he asked the council to allow the airport body to continue its work.
"The revision can go ahead but we want the body to continue looking for investors," Heri said.
He said several investors, including from Brunei, China and Malaysia, have shown interest in the project.
The Rp 24.5 trillion (US$2.6 billion) airport is expected to be built in stages, with construction beginning in 2008.
The airport, which is expected to be able to accommodate around 30 million passengers annually, will stand on 1,800 hectares of land, with the runway measuring around 3,500 meters in length.
In addition to the airport, the administration plans to construct an "Aero City" on 5,000 hectares of land to support the airport. This city will host businesses, hotels and shopping areas.
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