Anies Baswedan's Rejection Of IKN, Profit Or Benefit?

Supporters showed the flag of Presidential Candidate number 1 Anies Baswedan during his inaugural campaign at GOR Laga Satria, Pakansari, Kabupateen Bogor, West Java, Tuesday (28/11/2023). (Between/Yulius Satria Wijaya/foc)

JAKARTA The magnificent project of the era of President Joko Widodo, namely the construction of the State Capital (IKN) of the Archipelago, continues to receive criticism. Most recently, the source of criticism came from the presidential candidate pair (Capres) Anies Baswedan.

Anies' attitude towards IKN was again expressed in a campaign in Karawang, West Java, Monday (4/11/2023). According to him, the large IKN development budget is not used for urgent needs in Indonesia.

"I often say this, we feel very much how large the budget is often not used for urgent needs," he said, quoting Kompas.

"We have urgent needs, I often ask about building IKN today," continued Anies.

To note, IKN development is included in the national strategic project (PSN). The IKN budget allocation in the 2022 State Revenue and Expenditure Budget (APBN) until 2024 is IDR 75.5 trillion.

However, Anies Baswedan's wish to review IKN seems to be facing challenges. This is because the mandate for IKN development in the Jokowi administration is regulated in Law (UU) Number 3 of 2022 concerning IKN.

Anies Baswedan, may be the only presidential candidate to openly reject the idea of IKN development. The pair Ganjar Pranowo and Mahfud MD stated that they would continue the IKN, and this was also listed in their vision and mission documents.

Moreover, the number two pair, Prabowo Subianto and Giban Rakabuming Raka, who explicitly gave a straight signal to continue Jokowi's program, including IKN.

According to a political observer from the KedaiKOPI Survey Institute Hendri Satrio, Anies Baswedan's rejection of the IKN project could be an advantage for the number one pair. Coupled with the recent statement by the Acting Governor of Jakarta Heru, who said that the State Civil Apparatus (ASN) of DKI Jakarta has the potential to be transferred to IKN if it does not show good performance.

These words, although expressed jokingly, have the potential to cause a bad perception of IKN and this of course benefits Anies in the presidential election.

"This statement has a bad impact on IKN because it is perceived as an exile. It does not continue that IKN makes ASN comfortable, because they will not be disposed of. So it benefits Anies," said Hendri Satrio to VOI.

"In addition, investors who are not necessarily present at IKN are also increasingly benefiting Anies, because it means that Anies will think more about strategic development that is more beneficial. Studies about IKN must be made again," he added.

The same thing was said by Dedi Kurnia Syah from Indonesia Political Opinion (IPO). Dedi said Anies had a clear niche, namely the voice against the government or President Jokowi. Thus, the idea of studying IKN if they win makes the narrative of changes he carries stronger.

"Of course IKN criticism is a tactic, a strategy to gain votes from groups against the government," explained Dedi.

Dedi further believes that Anies' criticism of IKN Nusantara will not have a negative impact on the former Governor of DKI Jakarta or lose his voice, as long as the criticism is still reasonable and not continuously fried by Anies' camp.

"With this situation, it is quite interesting if IKN criticism continues, with a note that it is not too focused and spends energy there, but rather on solutions if the capital city remains in Jakarta," explained Dedi.

Unlike Anies Baswedan, Vice Presidential Candidate number one Muhaimin Iskandar is actually committed to continuing the development of IKN if elected in the 2024 presidential election, as he revealed after attending a vision and mission review event held by the Student Executive Board (BEM) of Padang State University (UNP), West Sumatra, Monday (4/12/2023).

"IKN is a legal product, of course if it is law, it must continue to be implemented," said Cak Imin.

The difference in views between Anies Baswedan and Muhaimin Iskandar according to political observer from Al Azhar University, Andriadi Achmad is a blunder. Andriadi even called the nomination of a partner with the nickname AMIN such as 'forced marriage'.

"Anies and Cak Imin are like blunders. So, they don't really carry change because on the one hand they still carry sustainability," Andriadi told VOI.