JAKARTA Happy birthday, Jakarta. The commemoration of Jakarta's 497th anniversary feels special, because this is the last time it has been celebrated as the capital city," said Jakarta Governor Heru Budi Hartono.
Saturday, June 22, 2024 is the peak of celebrating Jakarta's birthday, which is almost five centuries old. A number of festive events were distributed at several points, such as Kota Tua, Ancol, to the National Monument (Monas) area, which became an icon of Jakarta.
"Happy birthday to the city of Jakarta. For all residents who are present tonight, enjoy the entertainment with their families," said Heru Budi Hartono when he was present at the peak night of Jakarta's 497th anniversary at Monas.
This year is Jakarta's last birthday celebration with the status of the nation's capital, he added.
On this anniversary, the Provincial Government (Pemprov) of Jakarta carries the theme "Jakarta Global City of Persona Million". This theme has deep meaning and philosophy which illustrates that Jakarta has gone through various significant changes.
One of these significant changes is that the city of Jakarta is no longer the nation's capital. However, Jakarta will be encouraged as a stunning global destination.
"Like it or not, this city's destination is ready to embrace every human being who comes from various backgrounds, ethnicities, religions, and cultures while still prioritizing tolerance and the spirit of unity," Heru Budi continued.
Removing Capital City Status
Celebrating the 497th anniversary is indeed an emotional moment for Jakarta residents. How not, Jakarta is entering a transition period and will relinquish its capital status.
"Jakarta Kota Global: for almost 500 years, Jakarta has gone through various changes. The resilience of its citizens has made Jakarta continue to develop into a progressive megapolitan city. This year, Jakarta will also face changes in its role as a capital city that will lead to a new Qiblat, namely a global city," as reported by the DKI Jakarta Provincial Government website.
That is why the slogan Jakarta, Global City, Million Charms' has a deep meaning. Because even though you have to relinquish your status as the nation's capital, it doesn't make Jakarta lose its charm. Jakarta will remain the center of various activities and become home to millions of citizens.
"Releasing the status as the nation's capital city does not make Jakarta lose its charm. This city remains the center of various positive activities and is home to millions of citizens' dreams. Now, Jakarta has transformed into a global city with its uniqueness and cultural diversity," explained Heru Budi.
After no longer being the capital city, Jakarta has a strategic function and role as a national economy and as a global city that is the center of business networks between Indonesia and other cities in the world. This is in accordance with Law Number 2 of 2024 concerning the Province of the Special Region of Jakarta (UU DKJ).
Through the DKJ Law, it is hoped that Jakarta will not only contribute significantly to the national economy and state revenues as well as support the welfare of the people of Jakarta and national welfare, but also grow and develop as the main megapolitan city at the national, regional and global levels.
But even though it has been ratified, until now Jakarta's status has not changed and remains true until a presidential decision is issued regarding the relocation of the state capital from DKI Jakarta to IKN in East Kalimantan, based on Article 63 of the DKJ Law.
DK Jakarta Challenge
Jakarta faces various challenges after leaving the status of the capital city. IKN curator Ridwan Kamil said that in the near future Jakarta will not be too affected by the relocation of the capital city from the side of its activities.
However, the Governor of West Java for the 2018-2023 period mentioned the challenges of Jakarta in the next five years, namely related to the handling of the climate crisis. Jakarta is still the city with the worst pollution in the world. The next Jakarta leader must seriously fix the problem.
Moreover, according to the man who is familiarly called Kang Emil, from the existing data, almost 60 percent of the illness suffered by Jakarta residents is related to the problem of upper respiratory tract infection (ARI) due to pollution.
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Meanwhile, the President of the Eastern Regional Organization for Planning and Human Settlements (Earoph) International Emil Dardak said that Jakarta must continue to provide housing in the city center after not holding the status of the capital city. This is done so that the stable economy rotates.
"There must be a residence in Jakarta. Don't let Jakarta be just as a city center," said Emil Dardak when speaking at the Urban Dialogue event with the theme Jakarta Towards a Global City: Challenges and Solutions in Jakarta.
When the city center of Jakarta no longer has housing, the economy is also disrupted because it will become an empty city at night. In order to keep Jakarta from becoming the destination city after moving the capital city to East Kalimantan, it is necessary to provide housing in the middle of the city.
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