Members Of The House Of Representatives (DPR) Said That Free Nutrition Eating Programs Are More Realistic Than IKN Development

Illustration (Photo: Doc Antara)

JAKARTA - Member of Commission XI of the House of Representatives of the Republic of Indonesia (DPR RI) PDIP faction Hendrawan Supratikno agreed with a statement from Member of the Expert Council of the National Campaign Team (TKN) Prabowo Subianto-Gibran Rakabuming, Soedradjad Djiwandono who stated that the Free Nutrition Eating (MBG) program was more realistic to run in the short term than the IKN development project.

"I think what Mr. Soedradjad said was more realistic. Because IKN is a long-term project," he said when met at the Parliament Complex, Wednesday, July 3.

According to Hendrawan, the IKN project is a long-term project and the completion of regional development to become a city takes 15 years to 20 years.

This is the same as the process of moving the capital city in other countries.

"I imagine that IKN lives as a city, the IKN is approximately 15-20 years away. One new area with inadequate population, inadequate infrastructure, the capital's ecosystem has not yet been built," he explained.

Hendrawan assessed that a nutritious lunch program that can be realized in the short term is more realistic considering that half of Indonesia's population cannot access nutritious food.

"So what Pak Sudrajad said is more realistic. Eating is nutritious, right? 50 percent we eat is not nutritious. Look don't go far, this is out, people eat crackers. Then how do you deal with artificial intelligence if you eat crackers and flour every day? In Indonesia, it's great, eating rice, side dishes, everything is the same carbohydrates. Surprisingly, crackers are also carbohydrates, so the variety of carbohydrates is great. So indeed nutritious food is urgent, "he explained.

Nevertheless, Hendrawan said, the government and the DPR had discussed the 2025 IKN budget to determine the indicative ceiling in the 2025 State Revenue and Expenditure Budget (APBN).

"Only to prepare for the president of the speech at the DPR on 16 [August]. But the official figures will be in September. The numbers are still being drawn up by the current government," he said.

Hendrawan did not rule out the possibility that the IKN budget that had been set could change again when President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) wanted a larger IKN budget to ensure the sustainability of IKN development.

"It has been discussed, but indeed if President Jokowi wants to be bigger, of course. To ensure that the capital city of the archipelago becomes a successful project. Do not fail and give birth to the second Hambalang case, for example. Everyone wants the capital city of the archipelago to actually succeed. But it is not easy. A continuous commitment is needed," he concluded.