TKN Prabowo Considers Anies Blunder Asked Ambassador About Transferring Office To IKN

Meutya Hafid/PHOTO via Instagram @meutya_hafid

JAKARTA - Deputy Chairman of the Prabowo-Gibran National Campaign Team (TKN), Meutya Hafid, responded to the statement by the presidential candidate number 1 Anies Baswedan criticizing the relocation of the capital city. According to Meutya, Anies' group who asked the ambassadors to be asked whether they had plans to move their offices or not was a blunder statement.

"Yes, the principle of national strategic decisions, the relocation of the capital depends on the Ambassadors of friendly countries. In this case, I think Anies' submission of Mas Capres is a bit of a blunder," said Meutya Hafid, Monday, December 4.

The chairman of Commission I of the DPR also considered that Anies wanted to link his statement with the affairs of the presidential election. The head of the commission in charge of international relations also reminded Anies not to mix domestic affairs with foreign affairs.

"Mas Anies' statement was blundered because I saw that this issue was raised as if he wanted to be linked to the presidential election. Yes, it is not permissible, the election is our business in the country, do not internationalize domestic affairs, the election can be dangerous," said Meutya.

According to the Deputy Head of Golkar, the ambassadors will certainly respect the Indonesian government's decision regarding the relocation of the capital city. Meutya said, in terms of audienceship, the ambassadors stated that they would support Indonesia's decision.

"I am sure that the ambassadors will certainly respect, so far the submission we have received as Chairman of Commission I in receiving the audience of the ambassadors, they respect and support Indonesia's decision because there is a law binding, there is already a law. Customary law or customary law that applies globally, indeed the embassy office must be in the nation's capital," he explained.

Meutya ensured that the Indonesian government would specifically prepare areas for the ambassadors. He said the ambassadors' offices would be technically regulated.

"Later on, the transfer of foreign state representative offices is more technical, it could be that from us the Indonesian side also provides an embassy compound area, for example, or a regional allocation for representative offices of friendly countries, this is also common in Saudi Arabia," he concluded.

Previously, presidential candidate number 1, Anies Baswedan again criticized the development of the Nusantara State Capital (IKN) which was built in the era of President Joko Widodo.

The reason is, IKN has become one of the main agendas of Indonesian diplomacy by seeking foreign assistance in its development. Many also view that IKN is Indonesia's sovereignty.

This criticism was conveyed by Anies when former Indonesian Ambassador to the United States (US) Dino Patti Djalal asked about the urgency of IKN development at the Foreign Policy Conference of Indonesia (FPCI) event at Grand Sahid Jaya, Central Jakarta, Saturday, December 2.

Before answering seriously, the former Governor of DKI Jakarta actually asked questions for the ambassadors of other countries who were present at the event.

"Maybe asking the ambassadors here, is there a plan to move the embassy office or not?" Anies joked.