By: Syahrozi Andri
The government continues to realize the planned relocation of the State Capital. Besides being able to stimulate new economic growth, the removal of the National Capital is one of the concrete solutions to a number of national problems.
The idea of moving the capital of President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) seems more realistic. The relocation of the capital is not a new phenomenon in the world, many countries have done it, such as Brazil, Pakistan, Nigeria, Germany, and recently Israel.
For Indonesia itself, the idea of moving the country’s capital was pioneered by Indonesia’s first President, Soekarno in the 1950s. Even at that time the location projection had also been set, namely Palangkaraya (now the capital of Central Kalimantan) because of its location right in the middle of Indonesia. But seven years later, the establishment of the National Capital City (IKN) was forced to fail and remain in Jakarta based on the stipulation of Law (Law) Number 10 of 1964.
Like its predecessor, Jokowi, also known as a visionary president, wants to realize these old ideals. Hopefully in the second period of Jokowi’s government, the movement (progress) towards the new capital will find a concrete form. The movement of the new capital city, in addition to the hopes and ideals of the nation, is also a historical momentum if it is not realized immediately, who knows when this opportunity will come.
Along with population growth and heavy traffic in DKI Jakarta, the government through the National Planning and Development Agency (Bappenas) has again opened the discourse of looking for a replacement area for the Indonesian capital outside Java. In addition, economic losses due to congestion in DKI Jakarta in 2019 reached Rp 100 trillion and are among the top 10 most congestion cities in the world.
If seen from other factors, the consideration for the removal of IKN must be done immediately because the land surface in the North Jakarta section has decreased by an average of 7.5 centimeters per year and it is predicted that the decline will continue to increase in the following year.
The IKN removal plan is carried out with various studies relating to the economy, demography, socio-politics, defense and security, etc. The transfer is not only to stimulate new centers of economic growth, but also to meet the ideological aspects of the nation, namely social justice for the community. The new capital will be built in the administrative region of North Penajam Paser Regency and Kutai Kartanegara Regency, East Kalimantan Province.
Minister of National Development Planning / Head of Bappenas Bambang PS Bojonegoro said the government’s big program for the period 2020-2024, namely massive infrastructure development, including preparing a new capital city with estimated funds needed around USD 412 billion (equivalent to Rp6,000 trillion). Most of the funds will be absorbed in the construction of new airports, ports and power plants. Apart from the various problems and obstacles faced, of course the relocation of the capital city to Kalimantan is also considered to be the government’s solution in overcoming various problems that it has been facing. Besides being in the middle of the territory of Indonesia, the new IKN has minimal risk of earthquakes, volcanoes, tsunamis, floods, landslides and forest and land fires and is free from environmental pollution. This is certainly inversely proportional to the area that is currently the IKN.
With the relocation of a new capital city, it is hoped that it can encourage equitable development and economic growth. Because, most of the economy is absorbed and centered on Java. Therefore, the relocation of a new capital can be the right solution to overcome the problems that have occurred in the capital city. Of course, careful planning or strategies are needed together with experts in their respective fields in realizing this, so that the new capital removal plan can really be the right solution and not add to existing problems.