AHY Criticizes Jokowi: IKN Becomes An Ambitious Project That Loses The People Of Indonesia

JAKARTA - There is no Indonesian President who insists on the capital city of Indonesia moving apart from Joko Widodo (Jokowi). He wants to move the center of government from Jakarta to Penajam Paser Utara, East Kalimantan. Jokowi named his project as the capital city of the archipelago (IKN).

In fact, Jokowi's wishes were not approved by many parties. Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono (AHY) became the loudest opponent. The chairman of the Democratic Party saw that the presence of IKN did not have urgency. He was afraid that Jokowi's ambitions were too forced. Therefore, IKN could stall and the people became victims.

Jakarta's popularity as the capital city of Indonesia is classy. Jakarta is like a beacon of national civilization. All kinds of developments in Jakarta were later adopted in other cities. Problems arise. Jokowi saw Jakarta from a different point of view.

The 2014-2024 President of Indonesia considers Jakarta no longer special. This privilege is lost along with the problem that never ends in Jakarta. Among other things, floods, traffic jams, pollution, and dense population.

He thought that it was time for Jakarta to retire to become the capital city. He began rolling out the plan to move the capital city. His funding affairs are trying to think about it later. He then chose to move the capital city outside Java Island. North Paser Penajam was chosen. The location was later named as IKN.

All kinds of regulations that support the presence of IKN are issued. Jokowi considers IKN to be a symbol of social equality so that development is not only present on the island of Java. He considers IKN to carry modern, smart, and green city concepts.

Jokowi is also optimistic that the government can move to IKN in 2024, or at the end of his reign. However, IKN development did not get the blessing of all Indonesian people. Even though Jokowi has repeatedly mentioned that IKN development is a mandate from the Indonesian people.

However, not a few consider the development of IKN as mere political ambition. Initially, Jokowi thought that he would build an IKN without using the APBN. In fact, the APBN was also taken away. This condition is exacerbated by the economic condition of the Indonesian people, which is not doing well.

"Well, I want to build the capital city this year, the funds are not clear, I'm just going to look for it. What kind of development model is this? Not Sangkuriang's method, not simsalabim. This takes care of the state. In other words, Pak Jokowi is building a hole for his own grave.

"He has dug into the grave for the Sumatra Toll Road, then the Fast Train. Feeling underdeveloped too, it is dug deeper. This means that Pak Jokowi opens up opportunities for a scandal that no one can hold him anymore. Big scandal and Pak Jokowi have to bear the consequences," said economist and political observer, Faisal Basri as quoted by lamakompas.com, January 23, 2022.

The development of Jokowi's regime-style IKN has received attention throughout Indonesia. Those who criticize IKN have appeared. Criticism is not only present from the people. However, criticism also emerged from the political opponents of the Jokowi government.

The harshest criticism emerged from AHY. The son of the 6th President of Indonesia, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) considers the plan to move the capital city in a hurry. AHY considered this condition a big problem.

The cost of IKN development costs a lot of money, especially the corot APBN. Something that then has a big influence on the lives of the Indonesian people. Not to mention the condition of the national economy is not doing well after the COVID-19 pandemic.

AHY revealed that he and the Democratic Party were basically not allergic to development. However, if the development continues to be forced, then it must be opposed. Disaster will arise if development is not opposed. IKN has great potential for stalled and the Indonesian people who will suffer.

He asked Jokowi to immediately lower the ego of the legacy affairs. He asked Jokowi to be sensitive to the condition of the Indonesian people. Instead of continuing to force the IKN project to continue. The effect of the forced development domino is not playing big games.

"Actually, the spirit of building a new capital city is based on logical arguments, which are not wrong. Now what becomes illogical today when the Indonesian economy is difficult, is not doing well, our society is also not doing well, as if someone is forcing themselves. But when IKN must be executed now before 2024 must be, what is being pursued? ?

"So the legacy doesn't have to be the point now, if it doesn't, then it won't be our legacy, unless the character is negating the legacy of the previous leader. There is a fear, there will be concerns later if I'm not the one who cuts the ribbon, later it will be claimed by others, but that's not our problem. This is a people's problem, the people's economic problems that need to be found a solution. Don't prioritize projects that are extraordinary to confiscate our country's budget, my fear is that IKN will not happen, the people suffer," said AHY as quoted by the LAWvnews.com page, July 15, 2023.