Country Burdened By Debt Of IDR 6,700 Trillion, PKS Value Now Is Not The Right Time To Move Capital City

PKS President Ahmad Syaikhu (Photo: DOK ANTARA)

PADANG - The Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) considers that now is not the right time to move the country's capital, because from a financial point of view, the state is in a bad condition.

"PKS is the only faction in the DPR that rejects the Bill on the State Capital City, because currently the state's financial condition is burdened by debts that reach more than IDR 6,700 trillion," said PKS President Ahmad Syaikhu after opening the technical guidance for 3 members of the North Sumatra PKS DPRD, reported Between, Monday, February 21.

According to him, what the country needs more now is the recovery of the economic sector that was hit by the COVID-19 pandemic.

"This needs attention and it is better that the government prioritizes this first, so that the country will be better and the citizens more prosperous," he said.

PKS assesses that currently it is not a priority to move the state capital even though it says the cost is not from the APBN, but in the IKN Law it is stated that 52 percent of the APBN, and if it is built in the end the people will pay for it.

"IKN development also requires large funds and has an impact on the state budget," he said.

On the other hand, he highlighted the construction of the Jakarta-Bandung high-speed train, because if the capital city moves, it is feared that there will be fewer passengers.

"If this high-speed train is built, who else will ride because the capital city has moved to Kalimantan," he said. According to him, PKS's refusal was not just refusing but had gone through a focused group discussion process to produce the best decision.

In line with that, the chairman of the PKS faction of the DPR RI, Jazuli Juwaini, believes that a survey should be carried out before making a policy.

He gave an example of the construction of the Jakarta-Bandung high-speed train based on a survey that the average train passenger is only 2,000 people a week.

"While traveling passengers reach 10 thousand people, from here it can be seen that only 2,000 taking this train will be a loss, why should it be forced," he said again.