Sri Mulyani Predicts Land Prices in East Kalimantan Will Increase Due to IKN in Today's Memory, January 5, 2022

Portrait of the core area of the central government in IKN. (ANTARA)

JAKARTA - Today's memory, four years ago, January 5, 2022, the Minister of Finance (Menkeu), Sri Mulyani predicted that the presence of the Nusantara Capital City (IKN) would bring great benefits. The most important benefit is that the presence of IKN makes land prices around East Kalimantan (Kaltim) rise.

Previously, President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) was firm with the plan to move the capital from Jakarta to Penajam Paser Utara, East Kalimantan. This desire is one form of the government's concern for economic equity.

Economic equalization is the most difficult thing for Indonesian leaders to achieve from year to year. The development narrative from the Sukarno era to Jokowi still focuses a lot on Java Island. All kinds of facilities that mark the progress of the times are tried to be presented on Java Island.

Other regions were forced to bite their fingers. This condition is considered dangerous. Sometimes it can also lead to resistance. Jokowi also tried to realize the weaknesses of the government he led. As a result, Jokowi tried to have an idea to move the Indonesian Capital from Jakarta to outside Java Island.

Jokowi wants development to be equitable. Jokowi considers Jakarta no longer worthy of carrying the status as the Capital City. Jokowi considers Jakarta as a city with myriad problems such as flooding and traffic jams. Jokowi believes this is considered to hinder government performance.

As a result, the exact location was found. Jokowi chose North Penajam Paser. Later, people knew him as IKN. The plan to build IKN was tried to be rushed. All kinds of rules that accelerate the development were immediately signed.

He believes that IKN can bring great benefits and become a symbol of economic equality. Jokowi considers this an important lesson so that Indonesia is known as a great nation and cannot be taken lightly by the world.

"This step is a revolutionary way for President Joko Widodo to realize economic equality. This ambition is really important. But it will only be a discourse and imagination if it does not start to be realized," said Deputy IV of the Presidential Staff, Juri Ardiantoro, as quoted by lamansindonews.com, June 28, 2021.

Jokowi's desire to consider the development of IKN as a form of economic equalization has become a polemic. Many people consider Jokowi's plan unwise. This condition is because economic equalization is not merely the solution by moving the capital.

However, Sri Mulyani predicts that the presence of IKN will still bring benefits on January 5, 2022. Sri considers that land prices in East Kalimantan will rise. This condition is because the government will build supporting facilities and infrastructure such as toll roads.

The Garuda State Palace, which is the place where Indonesian leaders work at the IKN. (ANTARA)

As a result, Sri believes that residents of East Kalimantan will feel the real impact of the presence of IKN. He asked residents of East Kalimantan to be prepared and have a mature plan. Because, the presence of IKN will bring many changes to life.

"The president gave an extraordinary blessing to Kalimantan and East Kalimantan, the preparation to build IKN. I am almost sure that if you have land here, the price will go up soon."

"So you have to have a more mature planning. Because life in this area will change completely with the presence of IKN. Between dreams and not dreaming, is it really (to become IKN)? I guess not. But suddenly it will happen," said Sri as quoted by the lamankompas.com, January 5, 2022.