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Jakarta – Nearly two decades have passed since the last activities at Saidah Tower ceased in 2007.
The 28-story building standing on the edge of Jalan MT Haryono, South Jakarta, remains upright to this day, yet empty, enclosed by corrugated metal fencing, and isolated from the pulse of urban life that continues to move around it.
Amid the rapid pace of infrastructure and property development in Jakarta, the public often raises a simple yet crucial question: Why has Saidah Tower not been demolished?
The Jakarta Provincial Government (Pemprov DKI Jakarta) has emphasized that, to date, there is no legal or technical basis for demolishing the building.
The Head of the Building Utilization Subgroup at the Jakarta Office of Cipta Karya, Spatial Planning, and Land Affairs (Citata), Kartika Andam Dewi, stated that Saidah Tower had previously undergone a technical assessment and was not declared hazardous.
“At that time, there was already the result of a technical assessment conducted by professionals, and it was not declared dangerous,” Andam said when contacted by Kompas.com on Tuesday (16/12/2025).
She explained that within the governance of building management, demolition cannot be carried out arbitrarily simply because a building is abandoned or no longer in use.
“Even if a building is declared dangerous and there is an official demolition decision by the local government, the party responsible for carrying out the demolition remains the building owner,” Andam said.
Saidah Tower itself is a privately owned asset, not owned by the Jakarta Provincial Government. Therefore, the authority of the local government is limited to supervision and technical assessment, not direct execution.
When asked whether the technical assessment was conducted by the Citata Office or another party, Andam emphasized that the assessment was not carried out directly by the government.
“The assessment was conducted by a certified technical assessment service provider hired by the building owner,” she explained.
In other words, as long as there is no official report, public complaint, or updated technical assessment declaring the building dangerous, the local government has no basis to order its demolition.
In addition, Andam could not provide detailed information regarding the specific reasons why Saidah Tower has not been demolished, as it is privately owned, and only the owner knows the reasons.
An Icon That Turned Into an Urban Mystery
From an urban planning perspective, the presence of the abandoned Saidah Tower in such a strategic location represents both an anomaly and an irony.
Urban studies observer from Universitas Indonesia (UI), Muh Aziz Muslim, noted that Saidah Tower was once one of the most iconic buildings in the Pancoran and Cawang areas.
“Saidah Tower used to be one of the most iconic buildings in Jakarta, especially in the Pancoran area. Compared to surrounding buildings, it stood relatively taller,” Aziz said when contacted on Tuesday (16/12/2025).
However, precisely because of its strategic position, the uncertainty surrounding the fate of this building often triggers public speculation.
“If the question is why it has not been demolished, that is exactly the mystery. From the ownership aspect, this building is owned by an individual, the Saidah family. So the main question should actually be directed to the owner,” Aziz said.
According to Aziz, the most important lesson from the case of Saidah Tower is not merely about an abandoned building, but about the foundations of urban building governance.
“This building teaches us that development cannot rely solely on aesthetics and grandeur. What is far more important are structural and safety aspects,” he said.
He recalled that the evacuation of Saidah Tower in 2007 coincided with emerging issues related to changes in the building’s structure, including allegations that the building was tilting.
“At the time, information suggested it was allegedly built on a swampy area. This certainly needs to be reconfirmed, but what was clear was that the building’s safety began to be questioned,” Aziz said.
In the context of Jakarta today, Aziz believes that Saidah Tower failed to adapt to changes in safety standards and shifts in business centers.
“Now business centers have moved to Kuningan, Sudirman, and Simatupang. So, in addition to structural factors, there is also the factor of changing strategic locations,” he explained.
Regarding demolition, Aziz stated that such a decision cannot be viewed simplistically.
“Demolishing a building as tall as Saidah Tower is not an easy matter. There are many technical requirements, environmental impact considerations, and social impacts on the surrounding area. All of these certainly become considerations for the building owner,” Aziz said.
Environmental Risks Behind Demolition
From an environmental perspective, demolishing a structure as large as Saidah Tower in a densely populated and high-traffic area carries significant risks.
Environmental observer Mahawan Karuniasa emphasized that demolishing large buildings in urban areas has the potential for substantial environmental impacts.
“The first impact is certainly on air quality, especially fine particulate matter such as PM 2.5 and PM 10,” Mahawan said when contacted on Wednesday (17/12/2025).
Fine dust generated by demolition, he explained, is hazardous to health because it can enter the respiratory system and even the bloodstream.
“Without wet control measures such as water spraying, PM 2.5 levels can increase two to five times around demolition sites,” he said.
In addition to air pollution, noise is also a serious issue.
“Demolition can generate noise levels of 70 to 90 decibels, while the WHO standard maximum is 55 decibels,” Mahawan said.
He added that vibrations caused by demolition also pose a risk of damaging surrounding buildings, especially older structures and infrastructure such as water or gas pipelines.
“Not to mention social impacts. Economic activities of residents can be disrupted, living comfort decreases, and conflicts can arise if there is no good communication,” he said.
Therefore, Mahawan emphasized that the main issue is not merely the presence or absence of assessments, but their implementation and on-site supervision.
“Often the administrative requirements are complete, but supervision is weak. Public communication also tends to lag behind,” Mahawan said.
Tracing a Tower Frozen in Time
Previously, Kompas.com conducted an on-site exploration of Saidah Tower on Friday (7/11/2025). The building now resembles a forgotten urban artifact.
In front of the building, a dull gray corrugated metal fence about two meters high stretches across the area, bearing the striking red words “NO ENTRY.”
Above it, the LRT line towers overhead, while the Cawang TransJakarta bus stop below is crowded with passengers every day. Thousands of people pass by, just a few meters away from the empty building.
Once the gate was opened by security personnel, the atmosphere changed drastically. Silence. Only the distant hum of vehicles and the howling of guard dogs could be heard.
“We have four guards, day and night,” said Juliadi (40), a security guard who has worked there since 2014, when met directly.
Kompas.com was given the opportunity to enter the building, which is otherwise strictly off-limits to anyone except guards and the owner.
Stepping into the front courtyard, the marble lobby floors were covered with dust and fallen leaves. Wild grass grew between the tiles. Large Roman-style pillars had faded in color, while several window panes were broken.
Inside, as the exploration continued from the first to the ninth floor, elevator shafts were left bare with exposed metal frames. Rusted cables hung loosely. Emergency staircases were dark, damp, and smelled of old iron.
On the upper floors, shattered windows revealed a stark contrast: Jakarta outside continued to move relentlessly, while Saidah Tower seemed frozen in time.
A Long History and Complicated Ownership Status
Saidah Tower was built in 1998 by PT Hutama Karya at the request of Mooryati Soedibyo under the name Menara Gracindo. The building later changed hands to the family of Saidah Abu Bakar Ibrahim and was renovated into a 28-story structure.
However, the office building was abandoned by its tenants in 2007. At the time, management denied allegations of structural tilting, stating that the vacancy was solely due to the expiration of lease contracts.
According to Andam, a building that is no longer in use automatically loses its Certificate of Proper Function (Sertifikat Laik Fungsi/SLF).
“Our supervision is conducted on a rotating basis. Saidah Tower has not yet entered the supervision schedule for 2025,” Andam said.
Because there have been no reports or activities, further inspections have not been carried out.
A City Symbol Trapped in Uncertainty
For local residents, Saidah Tower has become more than just an empty building.
“At night it’s very quiet. Meanwhile, across the street there are already many new buildings,” said Puji (29), an online motorcycle taxi driver.
Another resident, Wati (50), described Saidah Tower as a symbol of a city left without direction.
“If it can no longer be used, then at least tidy it up. Don’t just let it become rundown,” she said.
Saidah Tower stands amid Jakarta’s megaprojects, yet it does not move along with them.
It serves as a reminder that physical development without legal certainty, sound governance, and the courage to make decisions will only give rise to monuments of silence.
Dr. Muh Azis Muslim, M.Si.
Lecturer in Public Administration, FIA UI
