The statement was made by Prabowo before starting the first Plenary Cabinet Session held by President Joko Widodo, on Monday (12/8).
On Monday morning, both were seen walking around the Presidential Palace and breathing in the air that Jokowi claimed was very cool and fresh. After walking around, Prabowo felt a good atmosphere in the prospective capital city of the Republic of Indonesia. According to him, this development must continue and if possible be accelerated, which of course Prabowo said must be adjusted to the country's capabilities.
“We will definitely finish it, although the outline plan, if I'm not mistaken, is a dozen or several decades, as other capital cities are also very long. We also can't force it, but if I'm optimistic in five years I think it will function very well. I'm not an engineering expert, but I see the potential, I'm sure it will be good in 5-6 years, it will be finished,” said Prabowo.
In his speech when opening the Plenary Cabinet Session, Jokowi stated that this was a very special event, because it was the first to be held in the IKN. Jokowi likened the IKN to a canvas that carves the future. In addition, he revealed that not all countries have the opportunity and ability to build their capital city from scratch.
By carrying the concept of a forest city and a smart city, Jokowi is confident that the IKN will grow as a green city, not a concrete city or a glass city. Jokowi is optimistic that the IKN will be a very comfortable city to live in, especially with air quality that is very minimal from pollution.
“I have often said about moving to the capital city of the archipelago, it is not the physical move that is important, but changing our mindset, changing our work pattern. Being able to work from anywhere, also changing mobility, because mobility in the IKN will all use electric vehicles and its energy will use green energy. The buildings here are also buildings, all directed towards green buildings and accessibility is also prioritized for pedestrians and cyclists,” said Jokowi.
The economy that will be developed in the IKN, he explained, will also carry a green and digital economy that will accompany the course of the Indonesian government in the future. In addition, Jokowi is also confident that the establishment of the IKN in East Kalimantan will be able to equalize the population and economy which have so far only been centered in Java.
“If asked what benefits will be gained by the people in Kalimantan, especially East Kalimantan? I think this will encourage economic growth in the province of East Kalimantan, especially in Balikpapan, more specifically in Penajam Paser Utara district. And if we know one of the reasons why the capital city moved is because we want equality, because we know that 58 percent of the economic GDP is in Java, so we want to equalize it so that outside Java can also get its economic turnover,” he explained.
On this occasion, Jokowi explained that the investment that has entered the construction of this mega project has reached Rp56.2 trillion from 55 investments that have laid their first stone. The sectors that have done groundbreaking include education, health, retail and logistics, hotels, energy and transportation. In addition, it is also equipped with investment from the banking sector, housing and green areas, and media and technology.
Urban Planning Observer Nirwono Yoga revealed that there are several things that need to be proven along with Prabowo Subianto's statement that he will continue the construction of the IKN.
First, he said, is to immediately ensure the budget for the development of the IKN in the 2025 State Budget. This is because, so far, the budget for the development of the IKN in the 2025 State Budget is almost certainly zero. The PUPR Ministry's budget in 2025 is recorded at only IDR 75 trillion, which will be used for the maintenance of existing infrastructure.
“Next year, the PUPR Ministry will only receive a budget of IDR 75 trillion, so it can be said that there is none or it is not as massive as it is now. That is the easiest example of how the commitment began, why? Because most of the basic infrastructure has not been completed. There is still a lot to be built, so the APBN is proven in 2025, we will see what percentage of the total portion is for building the IKN,” said Nirwono.
Second, Nirwono clearly is proof of Prabowo's presence in the IKN after being officially inaugurated as President in October. Nirwono is not sure Prabowo will often have an office in the IKN, considering that many infrastructures have not been completed.
“Is it as massive as Mr. Jokowi or not his presence at the IKN? That's what I doubt because if you look at Mr. Prabowo's political direction, it's not there. He has the advantage of free lunch, if asked to choose, Mr. Prabowo will definitely choose his program, because that's a campaign promise,” he explained.
Third, and no less important according to Nirwono is the legal certainty related to the Presidential Decree (Keppres) on the transfer of the National Capital from Jakarta to the IKN, which until now has not been signed. According to him, when it is signed, then in the shortest possible time, the course of his government must move completely to the IKN.
“So those three things are what we can later assess whether Mr. Prabowo's commitment will really be realized. There we will see the fate of the continuation of the IKN in 2025-2029. That will answer whether in the third stage, namely 2030-2034, the development will be more massive?” he said.
In terms of investors, he said that until now they have not been able to attract foreign investors to really invest their capital there. As far as he knows, foreign investors are still only expressing interest. lewat letter of intent (LOI) only.
“While the current investment is still in the national investment stage, which can be said in quotation marks is still in the trial stage. For example, what has been the progress of the groundbreaking until today? What has been done since November 2023, including malls, hospitals, schools, how much progress has there been until now? This is important, because for example, from my evaluation, yesterday's groundbreaking was for four hospitals. In my opinion, it is excessive for a new city whose population is not yet clear, why build four hospitals. Especially in a very close distance. So the groundbreaking itself must be evaluated, why build four hospitals in the near future, it doesn't mean it's good,” he concluded. (gi/jm)
