Malaysia Approves Indonesia to Build Second Indonesian Embassy in Putrajaya in Today’s Memory, January 9, 2009

Malaysian government center air photo, Putrajaya. (Wikimedia Commons)

JAKARTA – Today's memory, 15 years ago, January 9, 2009, the Malaysian Government gave Indonesia's blessing to build the second Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia (KBRI) in Putrajaya. This blessing was obtained after the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Malaysian Embassy in Jakarta met.

Previously, Malaysia's desire to have a central government without moving the National Capital (IKN) was resounding. Kuala Lumpur remains the IKN, while Putrajaya becomes the new government center.

Kuala Lumpur (KL) was once considered no longer suitable as an IKN. KL's development that is too fast is the reason. Even though this narrative makes KL a symbol of Malaysia's progress and modernity. New problems emerged. The Malaysian government has no more space to build.

This condition is made worse by the various problems present in KL. Floods, population density, traffic jams, and air pollution. Malaysian Prime Minister (PM) Mahathir Mohamad took a stand. He chose not to replace KL as IKN.

He just wanted to move the center of government to a wider area. The development idea was approved by the Malaysian Parliament in 1993. The option of finding a new government center was carried out. The Prang Besar area which is not far from KL was chosen. Matathir also changed the name of Prang Besar to Putrajaya.

Street scene in Putrajaya, Malaysia. (Pixabay)

The Putrajaya Mega Project began construction in 1995. The construction includes government support facilities, transportation and health. The Malaysian government then began occupying Putrajaya in 1999.

Gradually government staff began to move to Putrajaya. Since then, Putrajaya has been known to be effective as the center of the new Malaysian government.

"This neat and organized city is the pinnacle of PM Mahathir's achievements, a legacy after 18 years in power. The location of this new city has significance for Mahathir. It was he who helped transform Malaysia from a country dependent on commodities – palm oil, rubber and tin.”

“Malaysia has become a country with one of the most diversified and dynamic economies in Asia. "PM Mahathir also inaugurated a long list of mega projects: among them the Kuala Lumpur international airport and the world's tallest building, the Petronas Towers," wrote Thomas Fuller in his article in The New York Times newspaper entitled Malaysia Shy About Costs as a Grand New City Arises (1999 ).

Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia (KBRI) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. (Antara/Raffiudin)

The presence of Putrajaya has made Malaysia actively invite other nations to move to offices in Putrajaya. Indonesia, especially. The Malaysian government fully understands that Indonesia has chosen the Indonesian Embassy in KL.

However, the Malaysian government continues to offer Indonesia to build a second Indonesian Embassy in Putrajaya. The Indonesian Embassy in Kuala Lumpur remains and will be the center for immigration and employment services. Meanwhile, the plan for the Indonesian Embassy's presence in Putrajaya is more about government or politics.

This support was then expressed directly by the Malaysian Ambassador, Zainal Abidin Mahamad Zain. He, representing the Malaysian government, met with representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to give his blessing to build a new Indonesian Embassy in Putrajaya on January 9 2009. Even though this desire is still in the planning stage until now.

"Furthermore, at the meeting between the Malaysian Embassy and the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs on January 9, 2009, Malaysia said that its government had provided full support and facilitation needed for the construction of the new Indonesian Representative Office in the Putrajaya area," said Arif Sumantri Harahap in the book Invisible Diplomacy: The Untold Story Behind The Career of An Indonesian Diplomat (2022).