Jakarta – Speaker of the House of Representatives Setya Novanto said that lawmakers would heed President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo's call to halt the multi-million dollar construction project at the House of Representatives.
Setya said that the House leadership had also reconsidered the project given the current economic slowdown. "We will find the best solution that works with the current economic situation," Setya said as quoted by Antara news wire.
Last week, Jokowi decided against beginning new projects at the House of Representatives compound in Senayan. Jokowi said that he wanted the project to be cleared first before he gave it the go-ahead.
During his speech to open the first plenary session for the 2015-2016 sitting session, House Speaker Setya Novanto made a direct request to Jokowi to begin the Rp 1.6 trillion construction project.
House Deputy Speaker Fadli Zon meanwhile said that lawmakers deserved a new building, and that he considered the project inexpensive.
"How much does the Presidential plane cost? This is one presidential plane compared with remodelling the House compound," Fadli said as quoted by tribunnews.com.