Basuki Hadimuljono Absent During The OIKN Working Meeting With The DPR, King Juli Antoni: There Was An Assignment From Jokowi

Acting Deputy Chief of OIKN Raja Juli Antoni (Photo: Antara)

JAKARTA - Commission II of the House of Representatives (DPR) RI held a working meeting (Raker) with the Archipelago Capital Authority (OIKN) at the DPR RI Complex, Jakarta, today.

However, based on observations at the location, the Minister of Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR) who is also the Acting Head of OIKN did not appear to be present on the agenda.

Deputy Minister of Agrarian Affairs and Spatial Planning/Head of the National Land Agency (ATR/BPN) as well as Acting Deputy Head of the IKN Authority Raja Juli Antoni also revealed the reasons behind Basuki's absence.

"Furthermore, I was asked by the Acting Head (OIKN) to convey greetings to ladies and gentlemen. Sorry he could not attend because there was another assignment from the President (Joko Widodo) in his capacity as Minister of PUPR," he said during a working meeting (Raker) with Commission II at the DPR RI Complex, Jakarta, Monday, June 10.

The man who is familiarly called Antoni admitted that he was indeed asked by Basuki to attend the Raker agenda.

"As the Acting Deputy Head (OIKN), I was asked to represent him (Basuki Hadimuljono) to attend this event. Today, a week later we were honored to receive an invitation from Commission II to attend this noble forum," he said.

As for the Working Meeting, Antoni reported to Commission II of the DPR RI regarding the progress of IKN development, work plans and annual evaluations in 2024.

"According to orders, we will focus on the 2025 indicative budget ceiling," he said.

Previously, Bambang Susantono decided to resign from his position as Head of OIKN. Bambang was inaugurated as Head of OIKN on March 22, 2022. Bambang led IKN accompanied by his deputy, Dhony Rahajoe.

The resignation letter of both of them has been received by the President of the Republic of Indonesia Joko Widodo (Jokowi).

"Mr. President (Jokowi) also received a letter of resignation letter from Mr. Bambang Susantono as Head of the IKN Authority. Today a Presidential Decree (Keppres) has been issued regarding the honorable dismissal of Mr. Bambang Susantono as Head of the IKN Authority and also Mr. Dhony Rahajoe as Deputy Head of the IKN Authority," said Minister of State Secretary (Mensesneg) Pratikno as quoted from the Presidential Secretariat's YouTube, Monday, June 3.

Meanwhile, Jokowi has appointed the Minister of Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR) as the Acting Head of the IKN Authority and Deputy Minister of ATR/BPN Raja Juli Antoni to be the Acting Deputy Head of the IKN Authority.