South Papua MRP Building Construction Halted Amid Contract Dispute; Public Works Ministry Responds

JAKARTA - The construction of the South Papua People's Assembly (MRP) Building in Merauke Regency, South Papua Province, has been halted due to a contract dispute between the government and the service provider. The Ministry of Public Works (PU) assures that the project will continue, with new construction activities resuming only after the ongoing legal case obtains permanent legal force or "inkrah." Minister of PU Dody Hanggodo stated that infrastructure development in South Papua is part of the government''s support for the new autonomous region (DOB). He emphasized that the development of DOBs requires adequate infrastructure to ensure optimal public services, highlighting the importance of collaboration between central and regional governments. The construction was initially undertaken by PT Tureloto Battu Indah. However, the service provider failed to complete the work within the contract deadline of December 10, 2025. Following three critical warnings and unsuccessful improvement efforts, the work contract was terminated according to established procedures. Meike Kencanawulan Martawidjaja, Acting Director General of Construction at the Ministry of PU, explained that the contract termination was based on an evaluation of the service provider's performance by BPBPK. The provider was deemed unable to fulfill its contractual obligations, reaching the Show Cause Meeting (SCM) stage III. The project's progress showed a significant negative deviation and did not improve despite opportunities given for rectification. The termination led to legal proceedings when PT Tureloto Battu Indah filed a lawsuit. The Jayapura District Court rejected the lawsuit on September 3, 2026, citing a lack of parties. However, the case is not yet definitively settled, as the plaintiffs filed an appeal on September 9, 2026. The PU Ministry stated it respects the legal process and will adhere to all stages as per regulations. Meike acknowledged that the legal process impacts the project timeline. Nevertheless, the government guarantees that the construction will resume once legal certainty is achieved, while ensuring compliance with technical, administrative, and procurement regulations. Following the legal finalization, the PU Ministry will conduct a comprehensive evaluation of the work performed. This includes assessing the current state of the building, remaining tasks, necessary completion steps, and procurement requirements for continuing the project. The aim is to minimize further delays and enable the building to support the MRP's institutional activities promptly. The building is designed not only as a government facility but also to embody the identity and cultural character of South Papua. It features modern government architecture with a symmetrical, robust, and authoritative design, incorporating local Papuan cultural elements through pillars at the main entrance and traditional carving ornaments. The South Papua MRP building is expected to serve as a more representative facility for the MRP's functions, including meetings, hearings, receiving public aspirations, and social and cultural activities.