The study should be conducted seriously because moving the capital city is not only about the will, but also about infrastructure, resources, and governanceJakarta (ANTARA) - Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Fadli Zon has stated that the government should conduct a comprehensive study before moving the capital city to Kalimantan Island.
"The study should be conducted seriously because moving the capital city is not only about the will, but also about infrastructure, resources, and governance," Fadli Zon said at the complex of the House of Representatives, Jakarta, Friday.
While there is nothing new about this idea, the current condition of the Indonesian economy should be considered before such a step is taken, he cautioned.
In other countries, such a step is planned clearly and with all measures in place.
"What are the priorities of the government? Whether the relocation of the capital city has become a priority in the current economic conditions. There is a trade war, debt is getting bigger, and purchasing power is declining. These things must be considered," he said.
The study is still at a nascent stage because the funding and the process of moving the capital city have yet to be determined, Fadli Zon remarked.
Infrastructure must be built in the new capital. Keeping that in mind the cost of land and human resources must be calculated, he said.
Since the funding pattern was still unclear, the idea could be reviewed in the next five years, he believed.
Earlier, in his second annual speech at the legislative complex Friday morning, President Joko Widodo, announced that Kalimantan Island would serve as the host for the new capital city.
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“At this historic moment, in the name of the Almighty God, I would like to ask permission and support from the members of House of Representatives, the respected members of the country, and the people in Indonesia to move the capital city to Kalimantan Island,” President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) said during the state of the nation address.
Dressed in traditional Sasak attire, Jokowi explained that the capital city not only served as a symbol and the identity of the country, but it would also represent the progress of the nation.
For the president, moving the capital city from Jakarta to Kalimantan is a means to increase the equity and equality of the country’s economic development. (INE)
EDITED BY INE
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Translator: Imam B / Azis Kurmala
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
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