Eating High Costs, DPR Calls The 79th Anniversary Celebration Of The Republic Of Indonesia At IKN Budgeting

The State Palace and Garuda Palace in the National Advertisement Area of IKN, East Kalimantan. (ANTARA)

JAKARTA - Commission II of the Indonesian House of Representatives highlighted that the high budget expenditure was to finance the operational needs of the 70th Indonesian Independence Day ceremony in the capital city of Nusantara (IKN), East Kalimantan (Kaltim).

The government commission said that the plan to implement the Indonesian Independence Day at IKN was a waste of budget. "Isn't this a waste of the budget? In fact, there are still many people who are haunted by severe economic conditions, even meeting the needs of life for a day is very difficult," said Member of Commission II of the Indonesian House of Representatives Guspardi Gaus, to reporters, Thursday, August 8. Therefore, Guspardi asked the government to provide a detailed explanation, especially since there was information that there were many vehicles rented to support the implementation of the 17 Augustes at IKN.

Guspardi emphasized that the government should consider the condition of the Indonesian economy when making decisions. Do not let, according to him, the policies taken by the government ignore the interests of the community only to fulfill the egos of the rulers alone.

"Do not let the public think that the government seems insensitive to the difficult economic situation of the community, because it is reported that the Government has rented around 1,000 cars and hundreds of luxury hotel rooms for guests during the celebration of the 79th Indonesian Independence Day at IKN," he said.

According to information, the Government is said to have rented an Alphard car for IDR 25 million per unit for mobilization from and to IKN, especially in the Central Government Core Area (KIPP). The news conveyed by the rental party, the Government rented up to 1,000 Alphard cars, although there was also information that said the Government rented 100 Alphard cars for state guests and VVIP guests. Later, the government admitted that it only prepared mass transportation in the form of 200 buses for invited guests, and a special car for a series of vehicles for President Joko Widodo (Jokowi).

The West Sumatra electoral district PAN legislator assessed that the government should have been wiser in considering the swelling cost for the implementation of the Indonesian Independence Day commemoration at IKN. Given that the facilities at IKN are not complete, there are many additional needs needed in its implementation.

"Actually, it's sad. Is the rental of luxury cars more important than meeting the basic needs of the community such as health, education, and infrastructure?," said Guspardi.