Jakarta (ANTARA) - "The construction of Nusantara Capital City must not stall," President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) stated in his address during the 2022 People’s Consultative Assembly (MPR) Annual Session on August 16 ahead of Independence Day.
The parliament’s annual session and Independence Day commemoration have offered the national leadership another medium to ignite the spirit of all national stakeholders to proceed with the new capital relocation process without hesitation.
Following the passing of Law on National Capital by the House of Representatives (DPR) earlier this year, which the president lauded as the parliament’s expression of support for massive transformation, national leaders must continue to motivate residents and officials to support development of the new capital.
During his address, he ensured that the new capital development would accommodate all residents, regardless of their professions, and have economic benefits in the long run.
The new capital is not only for state civil apparatus but also a city for innovators and entrepreneurs, Jokowi said. The city would not only house government offices, but it will also become a new economic driving force, according to the head of state.
He added that the new capital would not be an ordinary city but will be a forest city with world-class education and health services.
The president said that the new capital would stir investment as private investors are invited to participate in the new capital development, thereby alleviating the issue that the new capital development will potentially become a burden on the State Budget.
"The construction of the Central Core of the Government Area is financed by the State Budget. However, 80 percent of private investors are invited to participate," he affirmed.
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Echoing the president’s statement, House Speaker Puan Maharani reiterated the parliament’s support to the development of the new capital during the Annual Address.
The new capital is expected to become a driving force of Indonesia’s economy in the future, a national symbol, and an ideal city that will be a model for urban development for the global community, she stated.
She also expressed hope that residents would be supportive of the development of the new capital, which had become one of the national strategic agendas mandated by Law on New Capital of Nusantara.
"The national capital has been mandated by the law that will be implemented according to the roadmap and the development, relocation, and new capital administration plans," Maharani remarked.
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Moreover, Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR) Minister Basuki Hadimuljono, earlier on Thursday (August 11), announced that tender signing for infrastructure development projects for the new capital will take place at the end of August 2022, with the construction expected to begin as early as September.
The PUPR Ministry has proposed a budget for the development of land, toll roads, roads, national roads, logistics roads, and workers' apartments. In addition, the government will hold a tender for the construction of the National Capital City Government Center (KIPP) project, he noted.
Hadimuljono’s statement is another indication that progress in the development of the new capital is accelerating, particularly after Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati approved the budget for Nusantara's construction development, which means there will be no issues in terms of the availability of budget from the government to start infrastructure construction this year.
Apart from the need to constantly motivate officials and residents to continue supporting the development, the government must also ensure that succeeding governments will commit to the long-term project, as the government projected that the final stage of development will conclude only in 2045 – the centenary of Indonesia’s independence.
In response to the need to codify the assurance, the MPR is considering including the new capital’s development in the state policy guidelines (PPHN) that will be enacted through a constitutional convention.
"MPR is currently conceiving the state policy guidelines, and the new capital (development) will be included in the guidelines. The (work to develop the) new capital must finish no matter who the president is, and the project must continue regardless of the successor that will preside over major national projects,” MPR Speaker Bambang Soesatyo stated at the Presidential Palace complex last Friday (August 12).
The speaker highlighted that the inclusion of the new capital’s development in PPHN would make it immune from legal actions that could suspend the process.
"I say, 'If (the new capital is regulated) by law, it will be prone to judicial review,' and the (president's) successor could also issue a regulation in lieu of law. There is no assurance though we need at least 15–20 years to complete the new capital’s development, which means four presidential terms," he expounded.
The assurance to continue the new capital development is needed, as the new capital will have long-term benefits for the people, he said.
"(This is) observing the president's earlier presentation convincing us to ensure that major national projects must benefit the people in the long run and must not be stalled when a (presidential) succession occurs," Soesatyo added.
President Jokowi has stressed that the new capital development must not stall, and appropriate measures must be taken to ensure presidential succession in the future will not hamper the new capital development.
To maintain confidence and support to the new capital among residents, the government must continue reminding residents about benefits of Indonesia having a new capital, properly addressing potential harmful effects of the development, and sticking to the plan to develop the new capital as a green city providing new opportunities to all sections of society.
