Prabowo: I'm Determined To Continue, If I Can Complete IKN

Screenshot - Prabowo Subianto with the ministers of the Advanced Indonesia Cabinet (KIM) while accompanying President Joko Widodo and Vice President Ma'ruf Amin in a press conference session at IKN

President-elect Prabowo Subianto is optimistic that the function of the capital city of the archipelago (IKN), East Kalimantan, as the capital area of the country will run optimally in the next three years.

"Although we are aware that the construction of the capital city is not a short job, a long and tough job, I believe in 3, 4, 5 years of function than the capital city can already run," Prabowo Subianto said at IKN as reported by ANTARA, Monday, August 12.

Prabowo is determined to continue all stages of IKN development that have been initiated by President Jokowi until the entire phase is complete.

"I have said many times that I am determined to continue, if I can finish it. Pak Jokowi, I think he has taken the role of history, he is initiated, at least I will continue, if I can, I will finish it," he said.

Although he does not have a technical background, Prabowo said that his experience in various developments in Indonesia can be the basis for overseeing the development of IKN to completion.

"I'm not a technical person, but I'm empirical, I'm also a field person. I'm also building a lot," he said.

In addition to being committed to the sustainability of IKN development, Prabowo is also directly involved as a development investor at IKN.

"One of my own investors is an entrepreneur," he said.

Prabowo is optimistic that he will be able to meet public expectations for the benefits of moving the nation's capital from Jakarta to IKN.

"I think if we look at it, are optimistic, and later it will be seen how beneficial this transfer will be, although later of course we still have a lot to do," he said.

When asked whether he wanted to have an office in IKN, Prabowo said that a President should be in the capital city.

"If the capital city, yes, the President is in the capital city," he said.

Based on the blueprint for IKN development, the implementation of IKN development in phase 1 is divided into three major work channels, namely urban development, infrastructure development, and economic development.

Head of the IKN Infrastructure Development Implementation Task Force Danis Sumadilaga estimates that all stages of development will take 20 years.

"This stage is regulated in Presidential Decree Number 63 of 2022. In the last 2 years, until the end of July 2024, IKN development focuses on providing basic infrastructure, including water needs, road networks, sanitation, waste, to government offices," he said.