New IKN Locations Flood, Observer: Why Spend Hundreds Of Trillions If It's Not Different From Jakarta?

A number of areas in North Penajam Paser Regency are still flooded with water levels varying from 30 to 50 centimeters (Antaranews/Bagus Purwa)

JAKARTA - Three villages in Sepaku District, North Penajam Paser Regency (PPU), East Kalimantan (Kaltim), were flooded. Floods due to high-intensity rains accompanied by high tides that made the river water overflow had an impact on 101 families and 101 houses and 1 prayer room.

The flood in North Penajam Paser then became the spotlight of various parties. The reason is, the area will be used as the capital of a new country.

Political communication observer at Esa Unggul University, M. Jamiluddin Ritonga, said that the flood in North Penajam Paser made the determination of the new IKN worthy of questioning. Because according to him, there is an impression that the determination of the location of the new IKN is haphazard.

"If there is a flood in North Penajam Paser, of course the determination of the location of the new IKN without a comprehensive study. There is an impression that the location determination is based on intuition, which cannot be scientifically justified," said Jamiluddin to VOI, Monday, December 20.

Moreover, he continued, one of the reasons for moving IKN was because DKI Jakarta was considered a flooded area. If the location of the new IKN is also flooded, said Jamiluddin, then the relocation of the IKN is not to solve the flood problem.

"Why spend hundreds of trillions if the new IKN will be no different from Jakarta, which is considered always flooded? If it continues to be forced, then the current authorities will be responsible for their policy of moving IKN," said Jamiluddin.

Therefore, Jamiluddin considered, the intention to move IKN to Penajam Paser Utara, East Kalimantan, deserves to be reviewed. "We need to think about a location that is completely free from flooding. For that, of course, a comprehensive study is needed by experts, not based on the tastes of a ruler," he said. Jamiluddin reminded that moving IKN does not need to be in a hurry, like moving a hut in a field. The government, he said, must form a multidisciplinary team to study the appropriate location for the new IKN.

"The government does not have to interfere in the study of the team that was formed. Let them work scientifically so that the ideal IKN location is obtained," he explained.

The government, Jamiluddin added, should also ask the people about the location of the IKN, not decide on their own. According to him, the people should be given a choice based on the recommendations from the formed study team.

"This way of working in addition to meeting scientific standards, is also in line with democratic principles. This must be done by the government so that flood events such as in North Penajam Paser do not need to occur," said Jamiluddin.