By: Abdul Karim )*
The nation’s capital city will be moved from DKI Jakarta to North Penajam Paser, East Kalimantan. This transfer is expected to create a new history of Indonesia’s diversity and social justice for all people in Indonesia.
When the nation’s capital city (IKN) was about to be moved from Java to Kalimantan, the people spontaneously got excited because they were shocked. In fact, if we look at history, the first president of Indonesia, Bung Karno, did plan to move the capital city from Jakarta to Palangkaraya, Kalimantan. His reasoning was that if the capital was moved to the center, the principle of justice would emerge.
General (Purn) Budi Gunawan, Head of the State Intelligence Agency (BIN) stated that the move of the national capital to Penajam Paser Utara, East Kalimantan, is a new historical icon. In a sense, this is the first time the capital city of Indonesia has been moved and will be recorded in history as a very important event.
History will record how the relocation of the nation’s capital city from Jakarta to Penajam Paser Utara was a major event. Although the capital city of Indonesia was also moved to Yogyakarta in 1946, it was only temporary, due to compulsion. At that time there was an onslaught from the Dutch who were not ready for Indonesia’s independence, and after they resigned in 1949, the capital city returned to DKI Jakarta.
Meanwhile, the relocation of the capital city from Jakarta to Penajam Paser Utara is permanent, meaning that you cannot return to Jakarta. The reason is because the location is fixed and is considered suitable to be a capital city for a developed country like Indonesia. Judging from its location in the middle of this country and its territory which can still be built into an ultra modern city.
General (Ret.) Budi Gunawan added that moving the nation’s capital would change the Java-centric stigma. In a sense, this will be a new history because it shows that Indonesian society does not only consist of Javanese ethnicity, but also other ethnic groups from Sundanese, Kutai, Banjar, etc. History will note that the government applies diversity and upholds Bhinneka Tunggal Ika.
When the nation’s capital was moved to Borneo, not only the presidential palace was built but also offices for state civil servants (ASN) and employees of various ministries. This move is also a new history for them because it could be the first time they set foot in Kalimantan. It is hoped that with the new office there will also be a new spirit.
The relocation of the national capital cannot be carried out in just a few days because it takes a very long preparation. First, starting from sketching the presidential palace and other important buildings, determining the exact location, building roads and related infrastructure, etc. It could be that the preparation takes more than a year and the public will be patiently waiting, what will the new metropolitan capital look like?
Of course there will be many benefits when the national capital is moved. Among other things, it will reduce traffic jams because many government employees have transferred to East Kalimantan. This is a new history because DKI Jakarta will become a traffic-free area.
When the nation’s capital is moved to East Kalimantan, it will be a new history because the public is amazed by the beauty of Penajam Paser Utara which is neatly and beautifully arranged. Everyone is waiting to see what the capital city in Kalimantan will look like, which is expected to be much better than DKI Jakarta.
)* The author is a citizen living in Jakarta
