Infrastructure Is Not Ready To Be The Reason Jokowi Is Canceled By Ngantors At IKN, The Ministry Of PUPR Responds Like This

Chairman of the IKN Infrastructure Development Planning Task Force of the Ministry of PUPR Imam Santoso Ernawi. (Photo: Theresia Agatha/VOI)

JAKARTA - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) reportedly canceled his office in the capital city of Nusantara (IKN) starting in July 2024.

This is because the basic infrastructure is not ready, such as electricity and clean water.

Responding to this, the Head of the IKN Infrastructure Development Planning Task Force of the Ministry of PUPR, Imam Santoso Ernawi, admitted that he had attended a meeting chaired directly by the Minister of PUPR as well as the Acting Head of the IKN Authority Basuki Hadimuljono recently.

Imam said, Basuki also invited parties from energy and telecommunications to be prepared for electricity networks and so on at IKN.

"Yesterday, I happened to attend a meeting under the leadership of the Minister of PUPR as well as the Acting Head of the Authority, inviting energy and telecommunications parties. One of them is the readiness of telecommunications such as fiber optics. From them it is ready, they question that from the network side in the area they fully follow the MUT," said Imam in a press conference held online, Thursday, July 11.

He explained that Multi Utility Tunnel (MUT) is a variety of utility channels that have been prepared by the Ministry of PUPR underground.

"They are included in the network and are in the parcels. We have also asked for guarantees for them to prepare so that later from the MUT to the SUT it will also be running," he said.

"Well, then they also reminded how the network in the building. Inside the building, all the development packages in it are included in the telecommunication network," he continued.

However, Imam did not deny that there is still homework for the Ministry of PUPR in the future, namely how to prepare human resources in the building.

"What has the potential to be designed in the future is how to prepare friends in this building. Then, we can prepare the term if there is an additional device, then what kind of payment. This, right, we are still designing the utilization period later. Well, we will still do this," he said.

As for the readiness of clean water, Imam admitted that it was a little late. He said that currently clean water is in the trial stage.

"This drinking water is now in the process of testing and commissioning as well, although it is still in stage one. We are testing and commissioning until stage 3, where stage 3 is completed by approximately 17 (July)," he said.

According to him, the Ministry of PUPR has continued to ask the party working on the clean water project.

However, said Imam, his job was indeed a bit disrupted because of the continuous rain at IKN.

"With the plan (of the ceremony) of the 17's, we ask that we come on when the drinking water is finished, here. From the start they said 18 (July) actually, that was the best. Then, we tried to press, sorry for this, we pressed, for example, whether or not it was 10 or 8 (July) at that time, yes. With a heavy heart (they) said, yes, we will try, sir," explained Imam.

"It turns out, right, in its implementation yesterday, if we look at it, yes, the rain almost doesn't stop there, you have to withdraw. So, the testing (trial) has also withdrawn," he added.

Furthermore, Imam himself could not confirm when President Jokowi would start based in IKN.

He said his party always reported the progress of clean water.

"Furthermore, maybe the Minister (Basuki Hadimuljono) will report to the President. However, what is clear is that we are ready for drinking water on 17 (July). Then, housing in the last week of July. Next, please go to the minister to the President (Jokowi)," he added.