Pramono Anung Says Jakarta-IKN Cannot Become Twin Cities

Pramono Anung/PHOTO: Diah Ayu-VOI

JAKARTA - Jakarta gubernatorial candidate Pramono Anung assessed that Jakarta and the Indonesian capital city (IKN) cannot be made into twin cities. This is in response to the proposal to implement twin cities during the transition period of moving the capital city.

Because, according to Pramono, usually the concept of twin cities or sister cities is applied between one city in the country and another city abroad.

"There is indeed a transition of government. However, if there are twin cities, I think it can't be. Because in the experience of sister cities, they should be abroad. How can this be domestic?" said Pramono when met in Cilandak, South Jakarta, Monday, August 14.

Pramono emphasized that Law Number 21 of 2023 concerning Amendments to Law Number 3 of 2022 concerning the Capital City mandates the center of government to move to the archipelago.

Meanwhile, Jakarta is projected to become a global city and center of the economy after relinquishing its capital city status. Therefore, if twin cities are implemented, it will violate laws and regulations.

"Jakarta according to the law does not become a twin city with the IKN, especially because the position of the IKN in the law is very clear that the IKN becomes the nation's capital, with Law Number 2 of 2024 Jakarta becomes a global city and the center of the national economy," he explained.

Previously, the Association of Indonesian Planning Schools (ASPI) proposed the concept of twin cities to be a solution to the plan to move the capital from Jakarta to the Indonesian Capital (IKN).

ASPI Chairman Adiwan Fahlan Aritenang explained that the concept of twin cities means that there are two main cities that carry out government administration functions, where one of them becomes the de jure capital and the other de facto.

The de jure capital means that it is officially recognized by law or the constitution as the center of government of a country.

While de facto, the recognition of the capital city is more based on the operational reality of the ongoing government functions.

In the context of the Presidential Decree (Keppres) IKN has not been signed but the country has a sufficient budget, then Jakarta can act as the de jure capital and the de facto IKN.

This means that by law Jakarta remains the capital city, but operational functions are carried out in the IKN.

IKN can adopt certain non-governmental main functions, such as education and research centers, which are accompanied by the gradual transfer of some public government functions from ministries/institutions (Ministry/Institution).

For example, the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN); Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology (Kemendikbudristek); Ministry of Environment and Forestry (KLHK); National Library; National Archives; and so on.

Meanwhile, if the Presidential Decree is signed but the budget is not sufficient, then the IKN becomes the de jure capital and Jakarta de facto.

In this case, the IKN is positioned as a 'partial' national government center city that accommodates some ministries supporting core government functions, such as the Ministry of State Secretary (Kemensetneg), Cabinet Secretariat, Ministry of Home Affairs (Kemendagri), Ministry of Defense (Kemenhan), and Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Kemenlu).

If what happens is a non-ideal condition, where the Presidential Decree is not signed and the budget is inadequate, then the state can take mitigation steps by continuing to encourage the implementation of the IKN plan, but as a long-term strategy until 2045.

Along with that, the government can conduct a review and in-depth review of aspects of the IKN planning, such as infrastructure development, population, and costs.

"So, we suggest focusing on the candidate for the nation's capital city that focuses on a liveable and loveable city that is worthy of being lived in while progressing until 2045," said Adiwan, Friday, October 11.