By: Arif Rahman)*
The government and the House of Representatives (DPR) are committed to moving the State Capital from Jakarta to East Kalimantan. The relocation of the nation’s capital has received widespread public appreciation because it is a form of Indonesia’s transformation into a developed country.
The relocation of the National Capital City (IKN) is not just moving buildings. Indonesian President Joko Widodo said the transfer of IKN from Jakarta to East Kalimantan was part of Indonesia’s transformation.
On the occasion of his remarks in the framework of the Parahyangan Catholic University Anniversary, Jokowi said, the relocation of the State Capital is part of the massive transformation that the government wants to carry out.
Jokowi emphasized that the main goal of relocating IKN is to build a new city that has a smart city concept. In addition, the transfer of IKN aims to make Indonesia more competitive at the global level. According to him, the transfer of IKN is also an effort to build a new locomotive for the transformation towards Indonesia based on innovation, technology and a green economy.
Physically, IKN development in East Kalimantan should be a momentum to build a healthy, efficient and productive city. The new capital city will later be designed in such a way that its citizens can be close to everywhere, can ride a bicycle or walk, because of zero emission which provides world-class security and health services as well as education.
On a different occasion, the Minister of National Development Planning (PPN)/Head of the National Development Planning Agency (Bappenas), Suharso Monoarfa, revealed that the name of the new IKN is Nusantara.
According to him, the name was chosen by President Joko Widodo and was confirmed to him directly on Friday. We need to know that so far, the center of the economy is still based on the Jakarta area and around the island of Java. Even though the territory of Indonesia is not only the island of Java.
It is recorded that 58% of the economic turnover is on the island of Java. The rest is divided in all regions outside Java. Even in Jabodetabek alone, economic turnover reaches one-fifth or 20 percent in Indonesia. If the problem of inequality is not taken seriously, inequality will widen.
We also cannot close our eyes that Jakarta has become an increasingly dense and congested area. This is one of the reasons why the National Capital City will be moved to East Kalimantan.
University of Indonesia (UI) Urban Sociologist Paul Wirutomo said, if a city is approaching density points that are already very dangerous for people’s lives, then it is better to find a way to spread it so that a city can re-develop. According to him, the most effective population distribution strategy is relocating the capital city.
The President of the Republic of Indonesia, Joko Widodo, said that the relocation of the capital city should be carried out in order to create equity and economic justice. Because the territory of Indonesia is not only limited to Jakarta and Java, but Indonesia is all corners of the country from Sabang to Merauke.
Moving the capital city to Kalimantan is a wise solution to reduce problems in Jakarta, such as traffic jams. In addition, there are many other problems, such as population size, to land subsidence which results in flooding.
The new capital city will not only be designed as a symbol of identity, but also as a representation of the nation’s progress, by carrying out the concept of a modern, smart and green city, using new and renewable energy and not relying on fossil energy.
It can be said that the relocation of the nation’s capital will be an important entry point in efforts to equalize national development. Bringing the center of government closer to disadvantaged areas is a strategic step for the development of the region.
Meanwhile, Member of the Special Committee (Pansus) for the Draft Law on the National Capital City (RUU IKN) G. Budisatrio Djiwandono said that the transfer of IKN to East Kalimantan not only provided an opportunity for the people of East Kalimantan to be involved in infrastructure development. However, the long term is to provide opportunities for the community to carry out economic transformation.
He explained, there are many things that the people of East Kalimantan can do as an effort to transform the economy from mining to a more environmentally friendly sector. For example, the community has begun to try to strengthen food security, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and ectourism. Of course, this opportunity will be wide open when East Kalimantan has been designated as the capital city of Indonesia.
For this reason, relocating the capital city is something that is needed for the progress of the country and the transformation of Indonesia. Moreover, the idea of moving the capital city was also discussed by the previous President of Indonesia.
)* The author is a contributor to Pertiwi Institute
