In The Past, Jokowi's Mercusuar Project Criticism, Now AHY Praises IKN Nusantara For Promoting Indonesia

President Jokowi and Minister of ATR-BPN Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono (AHY) after the inauguration at the State Palace, Jakarta, Wednesday, February 21, 2024. (ANTARA PHOTO-Hafidz M A)

JAKARTA - Minister of Agrarian Affairs and Spatial Planning/Head of the National Land Agency (ATR/BPN) Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono (AHY) is optimistic that IKN Nusantara can advance Indonesia's economy to improve people's welfare. "The city of Nusantara in the future could become the center of the birth of policies that can advance the economy that lead to the improvement of the welfare of the Indonesian people," said AHY in Sepaku, Penajam Paser Utara (PPU), East Kalimantan (Kaltim), Wednesday, February 28, which was confiscated by Antara. According to AHY, the development of IKN Nusantara as the center of government, will also become the center of progress of the Indonesian nation as well as the center of IKN civilization.

"We really appreciate the acceleration of the development of the city of Nusantara," he said. For now, he continued, infrastructure development at IKN Nusantara is still focused on the core area of the government (KIPP) such as the State Palace, Presidential Office and supporting buildings or other government supports. "We fully support the acceleration of the development of the city of the archipelago and the development of the capital city of a new Indonesian country," he said.

AHY's attitude was not similar when he criticized President Joko Widodo's government project during a speech for the simultaneous inauguration of DPC Democrats throughout West Java, Saturday, November 19, 2023.

At that time, AHY, who is also the General Chair of the Democratic Party, considered Jokowi's era projects to be called beacons, had too many state budgets.

AHY said that people are 'not okay' in dealing with the daily economy, as well as state finances that need better treatment, not just encouraging infrastructure development.

What people need is not grandiose. They don't want extraordinary projects, beacons. They just want to be able to eat well, which is worthy of their wives, children and families. Simple, "said AHY.

AHY also highlighted that the infrastructure in the Jokowi era had no impact on the poor category. He also said that during the era of the 6th President of the Republic of Indonesia Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) and his father led the government to build Indonesia but not entirely for infrastructure.

"We need infrastructure, but not all state money for infrastructure. During our time we built 10 years, right?", said AHY.