Defense Minister Prabowo: Giant Sea Wall Development Don't Get Stuck In 5 Annual Politics

Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto/Capture the screen via ANTARA

JAKARTA - Minister of Defense (Menhan) Prabowo Subianto reminded state officials of the giant sea wall construction project in several coastal areas of Indonesia not to be trapped by five years of political interests.

Prabowo explained that the construction of the Giant Sea Wall is a long-term project that will be completely completed within the next 40 years, especially if you reflect on the experiences of countries in Europe to build giant embankments.

"We understand the country is running in a political system through political parties manned by politicians, and the politician thinks five years, because he will be in power or not, in power for five years. The issue of Giant Sea Wall may be a paraengineering, and will convey, I believe this sea wall issue will take 40 years or more," Prabowo said when delivering his keynote address at a national seminar in Jakarta as reported by ANTARA, Wednesday, January 10.

The Dutch experience (to build a giant sea embankment) is like that for 40 years. Now, now the problem is whether political leaders are willing, focused on thinking about exercising all their abilities within 40 years? This is our obligation, and if Mr. Airlangga, all of our ministers say start massive development within the next 3-4 years, we will not see the completion of the Giant Sea Wallini. The success, it will be realized, 25, 30, 40 years to come," said Prabowo.

Therefore, the Minister of Defense invited all parties to start acting and participate in ensuring that the construction of sea wall, especially in Java, runs continuously.

"For the first phase only, A, B is IDR 164 trillion, maybe everything will be as I heard will eat 50" 60 billion dollars (US), maybe more. Later someone will always say can? This is not possible or can't. This must or not, (because otherwise coastal communities on the north coast sink," said the Indonesian Defense Minister.

The construction of coastal embankments and giant sea embankments began to be discussed in at least 1994 for the northern coastal area of Jakarta, but the plan was only realized in 2014. The construction of the embankment is part of the National Capital Integrated Coastal Development (NCICD) project which is divided into three stages of work, namely A, B, and C.