Head Of Projo Budi Ari Claims 500 Volunteers Will Go To IKN Not Using State Facilities

Minister of Communication and Information (Menkominfo) Budi Arie Setiadi. (Between)

JAKARTA - The Minister of Communication and Information (Menkominfo) who is also the General Chair of Projo Volunteers, Budi Arie Setiadi, said about 500 volunteers were leaving for the capital city of Nusantara (IKN), East Kalimantan (Katim). He ensured that his departure did not use state facilities.

"Remember, volunteers going there do not use state facilities. It is purely mutual cooperation from all volunteers. So we also want to see," said Budi Arie when met at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta, Thursday, August 1, which was confiscated by Antara.

Budi explained that the volunteers wanted to see the progress of the IKN development and the relocation of the capital city as a legacy program from President Joko Widodo.

The volunteers also worked together to go to IKN without using state facilities.

"Friends, let's take this seriously, the plan to move the State Capital IKN is a very serious program that we must support," said Budi.

Meanwhile, after communicating with Minister of State Secretary Pratikno, volunteers canceled visiting IKN on August 11, 2024, as previously planned.

Budi said volunteers are planned to leave for IKN to meet President Jokowi on August 24-25, 2024.

"Let's concentrate on the 17 Augusts first. I have also communicated with volunteer friends. We have not broken our focus. This is August 17, until the August 17 ceremony, then we will go there," said Budi Arie.

Budi Arie explained that the schedule for the departure of volunteers to IKN was adjusted so as not to interfere with preparations for August 17 at IKN.

When asked about the sustainability of the IKN project, Budi Arie emphasized that the construction of IKN is a long-term program that does not take enough time of 10 years, but 20 to 30 years.

"This issue is also important, part of our concern as a nation, to continue what the previous government has launched," he said.