THE letter was dated June 5, 2006. Sent by the Governor of Jakarta Special Province, Sutiyoso, to Vice President Jusuf Kalla, it requested the government guarantee the monorail project. The same letter was sent to Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Boediono, and Minister of Finance Sri Mulyani Indrawati one week later.

Sutiyoso needed the “blessings” of the three high-ranking officials after the consortium led by the Dubai Islamic Bank w