PSN's BSD And PIK Areas: Reply To President Jokowi's Budi To The Extraordinary Mahal Taipan

JAKARTA President Joko Widodo's decision to include BSD and PIK into the National Strategic Project (PSN) is called a mission of return of gratitude. But other opinions say, these two areas will become new centers of growth when Jakarta is too dense.

The government has just set 14 new PSN proposals whose financing comes from private investors and does not require APBN support. The goal is to equalize development in the infrastructure, tourism, education, and health sectors.

Spokesperson for the Coordinating Ministry for the Economy Haryo Limanseto said the 14 PSNs spread throughout Indonesia from Sabang to Merauke have high investment value and have a wide economy impact such as roads, ports, trains, airports, dams, energy, electricity, health, and telecommunications sectors.

"The PSN coverage itself is not only focused on physical infrastructure development, but also ensures an increase in economic equity, food supply, border development, technology, tourism to education," said Haryo in Jakarta, citing Antara.

What is of concern, among the PSN projects are PIK and BSD, two elite areas in Banten. Haryo said, one of the new PSNs, namely the development of green areas and Eco-City at PIK 2 locations, Banten Province. In addition, Haryo said another new PSN that will be developed is the Development of BSD Integrated Areas which is expected to absorb an investment of Rp. 18.54 trillion.

For BSD, Harto said the development of Integrated Areas was not carried out as a whole, but only for areas with an area of about 59.6 hectares. The development of the area will focus on education, biomedicals, and digital. This project is in line with the plan to develop an Integrated Biomedical Campus in the area to support education quality development programs and the quality of national medical health care.

Making BSD and PIK as PSN into the spotlight of a number of circles. Economic observer from Celiosm Nailul Huda assesses that BSD can develop into a good industrial center, especially the high-tech industry.

"Of course, with an integrated area, BSD can be developed into an industrial center that is quite good," Huda told VOI.

"KRL and integrated stations already exist, so they are quite suitable as centers for developing certain industries, especially for the high-tech industry. Health is also suitable," he added.

But on the one hand, Huda suspects that the decision to include BSD and PIK cannot be separated from Jokowi's repayment of BSD and PIK developers. This suspicion is not without reason. The boss of the owner is one of the investors in the State Capital (IKN) Nusantara.

"But to be a PSN, I don't agree because BSD has developed enough without having to enter PSN. Moreover, what is PIK that enters PSN to bring?" said Huda.

"In fact, I suspect it has something to do with investment in BSD and PIK developers in IKN. I think entering PSN is only a statement from the government to the developer because they have invested in IKN. Save Jokowi's face," he said again.

For information, the PIK area, especially PIK 2, was developed by Agung Sedayu Group owned by Sugianto Kusuma alias Aguan. Meanwhile, BSD City is managed by PT Bumi Serpong Damai Tbk (BSDE) which is under Sinarmas Land under the command of Franky Oesman Widjaja, the son of the founder of the Sinarmas Group, Eka Tjipta Widjaja.

It is known that Aguan and Franky are investors in IKN. Both are members of the Nusantara Consortium who worked on the Nusantara Hotel in the new capital city. President Jokowi even thanked Aguan and Franky and other businessmen who were members of the consortium during the groundbreaking of the Nusantara Hotel in September 2023.

Meanwhile, Public Policy Observer Agus Pambagio criticized the determination of BSD and PIK to become PSN. According to Agus, PSN should be given to programs that need acceleration, while in reality BSD and PIK are among the elite areas in Banten whose projects have been running.

In addition, Agus is also worried that the stipulation of PSN will lead to abuse of authority. He also considered that the stipulation of PSN was not in accordance with regulations, because PSN should be for economic equity.

"Iningacoaja. PSN is for equitable economics. Not to enrich the group," he said.

Another opinion was put forward by Yayat Supriatna. This City Procedure Observer from Trisakti University sees BSD and PIK will become a new center of growth when Jakarta is too dense. This PSN status can encourage the acceleration of the development of the two areas, because it is considered to be able to cut the length of the bureaucracy in the country.

"The BSD and PIK cases in the context of land development are quite wide. BSD is almost 6,000 ha, which is currently under 3,000 ha built. He has new reserve potential that can be used as a function redistribution concept," said Yayat.

However, he appealed to create collaboration between developers and local governments so that PSN in BSD and PIK could have an impact on equitable development and people's welfare.