The Development Of IKN Nusantara Cannot Stop

An exterior design that will become the Presidential Palace in the State Capital (IKN) Nusantara in East Kalimantan. (Between/HO-Instagram@ninoman_nuarta)

JAKARTA The development of the State Capital (IKN) of the Archipelago must not stop and must be accelerated. Along with that, it is also necessary to strengthen human resources (HR). The quality of human resources will determine their ability to contribute to development and take advantage of the relocation and development of the new nation's capital.

The presidential candidate from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP) Ganjar Pranowo implies that after the Perindo Party signed political cooperation with PDIP to support it in the 2024 presidential election on June 9, 2023.

It is a long agenda that must be carried out, of course, by working together.

"If that happens, the dream of the founder of the Bung Karno nation can be realized," said Ganjar.

Ganjar's statement is a matter of mafhum. As a PDIP cadre as well as a figure who is promoted as a presidential candidate, Ganjar will certainly continue to confirm the sustainability of the IKN Nusantara development to his supporters.

Because, it's a gamble, not only for the party but also for the good name of Indonesia.

Moreover, President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has several times promoted IKN Nusantara to world investors, to asking former British Prime Minister Tony Blair to participate in promoting it internationally.

Jokowi during a speech at the 2023 Ecosperity Week event in Singapore on June 7, even ensuring that whoever will lead Indonesia in the future, the development of the Nusantara IKN will continue and investment will remain safe and sustainable.

"If the failure or project does not work, Indonesia's reputation in the eyes of the world will decrease. Investors will certainly think again because it turns out that Indonesia is not technically ready, in terms of basic infrastructure to build IKN," said Director of the Center of Economic and Law Studies (Celios) Bhima Yudhistira to VOI on June 10, 2023.

Not only reputation, the Indonesian economy will definitely be very disturbed. How much the APBN budget has already been issued. This, according to Bhima, 'could be a state loss. The government must also bear debts due to IKN development spending.'

That is why, Bhima suggested that the IKN project should continue. If the next leader is reluctant, at least IKN is modified from the initial plan as the capital city to the presidential palace complex. Thus, the form of the archipelago remains.

This method is much safer. So it's not too wasteful. The costs spent in terms of state finances are also relatively less than the initial plan. investor confidence will also be maintained," said Bhima.

The discourse on moving the capital city, based on a number of literature, has indeed emerged since the era of President Soekarno. No wonder Ganjar called IKN Nusantara an effort to realize Bung Karno's dream.

After President Soekarno inaugurated the Soekarno Monument in Palangkaraya City, Central Kalimantan in 1957, it was widely reported that Bung Karno planned to move the capital city from Jakarta to the city.

Although many believe it is just an issue, Roosseno, an architect who is also a former minister of public work and transportation in the 1953-1955 period, stated that the plan was true.

Historia in the article Dream of the Capital City in Central Rimba Raya on January 17, 2022, wrote that Roosseno had stated that Bung Karno had an idea that did not come true, making the capital city of the Republic of Indonesia in Kalimantan.

'About in Palangkaraya. Why? Because the Indonesian government has never made its own city. All cities that exist today are colonial relics,' said Roosseno.

Former Minister of Information for the 1962-1966 period Roeslan Abdulgani, still reported from Historia, also said the same thing. In fact, the plan to move the capital city was discussed in the National council meetings, the government advisory body formed in July 1957.

Not only Soekarno, President Soeharto also had plans to move the capital city from Jakarta to Jonggol. On January 15, 1997 Suharto even issued Presidential Decree (Keppres) Number 1 of 1997. The Presidential Decree on the Coordination of Development of the Jonggol Region as Mandiri City, which was touted as the legal basis for the initial plan to move the capital city.

The plan came back in the era of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) who wanted to move the capital city to West Java. Then it continues to the current era of government.

However, President Jokowi is more looking at North Penajam Paser Regency, East Kalimantan as the location of the new capital city named Nusantara. Jokowi strengthened his plan by signing Law Number 3 of 2022 concerning the Capital City of the Archipelago.

As stated in Article 2 of the Law, the capital city of the archipelago has a vision as a world city for everything that is built and managed with the aim of becoming a sustainable city in the world; as a driving force for Indonesia's future economy; and become a symbol of a national identity that represents the diversity of the Indonesian nation, based on Pancasila and the 1945 Constitution of the Republic of Indonesia.

Jokowi hopes that the next president can continue his struggle.

"Currently, we are still struggling to present fair and equitable development. This requires continuity and sustainability," said Jokowi during the commemoration of the Birthday of Pancasila on June 1, 2023.

"Personnel in the government can change but struggles must not stop, justice equality and prosperity are what we want to achieve through structural reforms, improving the quality of human resources, industrial sterilization, and the development of the capital city of the archipelago," President Jokowi added.

There are a number of reasons that underlie the Jokowi administration to move the capital city, including economic equity. Currently, Indonesia's economic structure is still dominated by Java Island which contributes 56.48 percent to Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

By moving the capital city to East Kalimantan, economic growth and automatic money turnover will expand, not only centered on the island of Java. The population level will also shift.

On the other hand, the current condition of Jakarta is classified as a state capital and the capital city of government. Congestion, air pollution, flooding is an unresolved problem.

In fact, the Pocket Book for the Transfer of the Capital City of the Archipelago published by the Ministry of National Development Planning/National Development Planning Agency wrote, Jakarta is experiencing a water availability crisis. The quality of reservoir and river water is already in the category of severe pollution. The soil surface also experienced a drastic decline, reaching 35-50 cm over the period 10 years from 2007-2017.

Not to mention the threat of natural disasters from the activities of the Krakatau and Mount Gede mountains. Also the potential for a tsunami originating from the southern megathrust of Java and the Sunda Strait. As well as the potential for land earthquakes due to the movement of the Baribis fault, Lembang fault, and Cimandiri fault.

The election for East Kalimantan as the capital city of Nusantara refers to several criteria, including the geographical location in the midst of Indonesia, representing justice.

This area is also relatively safe from the threat of natural disasters because it is outside the path of the volcanic ring. It's just a matter of how to strengthen the defense and security mechanisms.

Launching from the information media of the Ministry of Defense, WIRA edition I 2022, the prediction of threats that may occur at any time in the region of the new State Capital in East Kalimantan is the emergence of threats triggered by problems in the land border area with Malaysia.

Then, the problems of the maritime border area with Malaysia and the Philippines, problems in the Indonesian Archipelago Sea Lane (ALKI-II), and internal conflicts between ethnic groups, races and religions that are still considered to be a trigger for problems.

Moving the capital city is not an easy thing, it takes careful calculation to make it happen. Not to mention the political aspects and various other dynamics emerged. That's why, Jokowi said it needed courage to execute it.

A number of neighboring countries such as Malaysia, Australia, and Myanmar have done so. Malaysia moved its center of government from Kuala Lumpur to Putrajaya in 1999. However, Kuala Lumpur remains the city of the king's residence and the current financial center.

"If we don't execute these existing studies, it won't happen at any time. It really takes courage, there is a risk from there, but we know we want equitable distribution, not Java-centric but Indonesian-centric," added Ganjar.

Ganjar also believes, The transfer of the nation's capital is not only to realize the dream of founding fathers, but also the idea of Indonesia's design in the future, about future nation. Namely a country that combines natural wealth and beauty with technology without neglecting the local wisdom that we have."