CILACAP - Member of the DPD Abdul Kholik assessed that the southern Central Java region has great potential to be developed as a new economic axis, as well as reducing the inequality of development between regions.
"So far, the potential for agriculture, marine, and tourism in South Java has not been optimal because it is still running independently among districts, so it needs to be integrated into one economic area that strengthens each other," he said after a discussion in Cilacap, Central Java, Saturday.
He said that so far, southern Central Java has often lagged behind the northern region, which has developed first because of infrastructure support and industrial centers.
In fact, he said, the southern region has abundant and strategic natural resources if managed in an integrated manner.
According to him, there are three flagship sectors that can become the driving force of the southern Central Java economy, namely the agro or agricultural sector, the maritime and marine sector, and the tourism sector.
"These three sectors are spread evenly in the southern area of Central Java and are interrelated with each other," he said.
He said the concept of southern Java was designed to integrate at least seven to ten regencies into one complementary economic force.
According to him, the districts are Cilacap, Banyumas, Banjarnegara, Purbalingga, Kebumen, Purworejo, and Wonosobo, and it is possible to involve the border areas of West Java such as Pangandaran, Tasikmalaya, and Ciamis.
"This area will be connected through the southern axis, starting from the eastern region which is connected to Yogyakarta, Cilacap as the central axis, to the west which is connected to Tasikmalaya or Bandung," he said.
He said the idea of developing southern Java was not only positioned as an economic integration area, but also as part of an independent decentralization solution.
According to him, one of the schemes being pushed is the development of special areas based on agro-maritime which is focused as a buffer area for national food security.
He assessed that the approach was in line with the central government's policy, which is currently encouraging food independence and resilience for the economic axis.
In fact, he said, the central government's response to the southern Central Java idea was quite positive, one of which was marked by the implementation of the national coordination meeting of southern Central Java in the field of infrastructure.
Meanwhile, the Coordinator of the Presidium of the Regional Assembly of the Family Alumni of the Islamic Student Association (MD KAHMI) of Cilacap Regency, Hamidan Majdi, said his party responded positively to the idea of developing southern Java and was ready to encourage cross-regional collaboration so that the idea could be realized concretely.
According to him, South Java is a reflection of efforts to realize the fifth principle of Pancasila, namely social justice for all Indonesian people, especially for people in the south who have been relatively behind.
"The idea of southern Central Java must not stop as a mere political discourse or issue, but must be realized through joint work and sustainable cross-district movement," he said.
He said MD KAHMI Cilacap together with a number of parties plans to continue discussions and consolidation in various regions in the southern Central Java region so that its development can be immediately realized and have a real impact on public welfare.
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