Faisal Basri Yakin Prabowo Will Continue IKN, But Reorganized His Ambition

Senior Economist Indef Faisal Basri (Photo: Antara)

JAKARTA - Senior Economist Indef Faisal Basri believes Elected President Prabowo Subianto will continue the capital city of Nusantara (IKN) project in East Kalimantan.

However, Faisal suspects that Prabowo will not want to be as harsh or ambitious as President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) in building a new capital city.

According to him, Prabowo will most likely reorganize the construction of IKN. "(IKN) will continue, but the size will be reduced. I have a high confidence that Pak Prabowo will continue (the project) of the capital city (IKN) but it will be reorganized, whose ambitions are issued," he said in the agenda of 'Reviu RAPBN 2025 Insists on Debt!' in Jakarta, Wednesday, August 21.

Faisal assessed that Prabowo most likely relied on investment to build IKN. The source is from conglomerates, one of which is the Owner of the Agung Sedayu Group, namely, Sugianto Kusuma alias Aguan.

This is because the IKN development budget is known to be limited to the 2025 State Budget (APBN), which amounts to only IDR 143.1 billion.

"It's impossible from the state budget, that's why it's small (IKN budget) in the state budget. The largest is handed over to Aguan, Sinar Mas," said Faisal.

Later, as a form of appreciation for the investment of conglomerates, Faisal suspects that Prabowo will provide a number of national strategic projects (PSN) to be worked on by them.

"(Just Prabowo said) 'I'll give PSN compensation'. Got it 10 times the costs incurred (conglomerate for IKN)," he said.

Previously, the government prepared a budget of IDR 400.3 trillion for infrastructure development in 2025. This amount already includes plans for the continuation of IKN development.

However, in the Financial Note Book of the 2025 RAPBN, the total budget for the sustainability of IKN development next year is only Rp. 143.1 billion. This amount is relatively very small considering that the total budget for Indonesia's 2025 infrastructure will be more than Rp. 400 trillion.

Related to this, the Minister of National Development Planning/Head of the National Development Planning Agency (PPN/Bappenas) Suharso Monoarfa explained that the budget of Rp. 143 billion did not include the budget needs of the IKN Authority in building the area of the new capital city.

Until now, Suharso assessed, OIKN has not submitted their proposed budget needs. This condition makes the budget for the sustainability of the IKN mega project look very small.

"(Rp150 billion) it's just the room, only the room. Right, later based on the law it must be proposed by the (OIKN)," said Suharso at the 2025 RAPBN Press Conference at the Office of the Directorate General of Taxes (DJP) of the Ministry of Finance, Jakarta, Friday, August 16.