Budget Blocked, Commission II Of The DPR Supports Temporary Suspension Of The IKN Project

JAKARTA - Member of Commission II DPR RI Indrajaya supports the temporary suspension of the Nusantara Capital (IKN) project in East Kalimantan (Kaltim) due to the blocking of the Ministry of Public Works (KemenPU) budget which reached 80 percent from DIPA 2025 of IDR 110.95 trillion to IDR 29.57 trillion. As a result of this blocking, the Ministry of Public Works also cut the IKN budget from IDR 60.6 trillion to IDR 14.87 trillion.

Indrajaya assessed that there is nothing to worry about with the blocking of this budget. Because he said, this blocking is only temporary, which does not interfere with the personnel's budget.

"I understand that this blocking is temporary for the priority of President Prabowo Subianto's Asta Cita Program, such as MBG and improving people's welfare. So, don't panic, after all, the budget for employees is safe," said Indra, Monday, February 10.

Indra said, when referring to Presidential Instruction Number 1 of 2025 concerning the Efficiency of Expenditures in the Implementation of the State Budget and the 2025 FY APBD, the blocking was carried out as a general mechanism that usually occurs at the beginning of the fiscal year. Although the blocking figure is quite significant, Indra assessed, the Presidential Instruction is something that is out of the box.

"This is an evaluation momentum for ministries/agencies that are budget-blocked, and whether it will have a bad impact on the community," said Indra.

Furthermore, the PKB legislator from the South Papua electoral district explained that the IKN budget was not only at the Ministry of Public Works but also at OIKN of IDR 28.3 trillion in the 2025 State Budget. Of the total OIKN budget of IDR 26.7 trillion, it is used for the construction of facilities and infrastructure such as road construction, basic infrastructure, and building and regional management.

According to Indra, it should not be because of the development of IKN, other government programs will be hampered. He emphasized that the positive impact of the construction of the new capital city was not instant (it took time and process), therefore the construction should not be grusa-grusu (hurry).

"If the state experiences budget difficulties or has a more urgent people's welfare program, there is nothing wrong with postponement of IKN, is it not the main goal of national development to prosper its people," explained Indra.

Indra actually appreciated President Prabowo Subianto's requirements based in IKN if all state buildings/offices had been built in 2028 or at the end of his term of office in 2029. According to him, President Prabowo did not impose his personal will, it did not burden the duties of an unrealistic ministry/institution, nor did he ignore the priority of the program to prosper the people.

"Imagine if the plan to transfer IKN since August 17, 2024, or if ASN has since been forced to stay in IKN, the loss is not only material but humanity," concluded Indra