Yusril Said, The IKN Law Was The Difference Between The Discourse Of The Capital City In The Past

Photo: BPMI Setpres/Laily Rachev

JAKARTA - Constitutional law expert Yusril Ihza Mahendra assessed that the existence of Law Number 3 of 2022 concerning the State Capital was the difference between various discourses on the formation of a new capital city that had emerged in the past.

"Yes, indeed this is a bit different from Bung Karno when he talked about the capital city wanting to move to Kalimantan, it's only at the disaster level," Yusril told reporters at the Jakarta Presidential Palace, Monday, after meeting with President Joko Widodo, Monday, September 12.

The discourse of the new capital city had emerged in the era of President Suharto's administration with the Jonggol area in Bogor Regency as the selected location.

The discourse was initiated by Presidential Decree No. 1 of 1997 concerning Coordination of the Development of the Jonggol Area as a City of Mandiri which was published on January 15, 1997.

However, these discourses did not continue and only President Jokowi could follow up on efforts to move the new capital city to IKN Nusantara with the issuance of the IKN Law which was set on February 15, 2022.

According to Yusril, with the existence of the IKN Law, it is hoped that there will be a continuity of policies related to the relocation of the capital city even though it has changed governments.

"When there is a change in government, there is also a change in policy regarding the relocation of the capital city. Once this is done with the law and we hope that the next government will continue, we don't know who the president is," said Yusril.

Yusril went to the Presidential Palace to fulfill President Jokowi's invitation to discuss the acceleration of IKN Nusantara, one of which is about the involvement of the private sector in developing commercial areas in the new capital city.

Yusril admitted that President Jokowi had invited this and asked him to continue communication with the Head of the Nusantara IKN Authority, Bambang Susantono.

In addition, President Jokowi discussed the legal aspect of the legal umbrella for the archipelago IKN and Yusril admitted that they were ready to help if needed.

"If there are more detailed things that require analysis or legal consideration or drafting, maybe I can help," he said.