Instead, the decision would make East Kalimantan gain great benefits, she told journalists after witnessing the swearing in of the new commander of naval base in Nunukan, North Kalimantan Province, on Thursday.
"Nunukan District will not gain optimum benefits from this capital city relocation but I support the decision," Asmin Laura Hafid said.
In Jakarta, Minister of Agrarian Affairs and Spatial Planning/Head of the National Land Agency (BPN) Sofyan Djalil has revealed the central government's decision to move the national capital to Kalimantan.
"It is East Kalimantan, but the specific location had yet to be named," Djalil remarked at the building of the Coordinating Ministry of Economic Affairs on Thursday.
Djalil explained that three thousand hectares of land will be required to build government offices in the first phase of the development of the new capital city.
Regarding this capital city relocation, West Kalimantan Governor Sutarmidji said his province would gain optimum benefits from President Joko Widodo's decision to relocate Indonesia's capital city from Jakarta to the island of Kalimantan.
He argued that West Kalimantan would gain optimum benefits from this capital city relocation owing to the existence of Kijing International Port. The seaport could support the inflow and outflow of goods for the new capital city.
President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) had officially announced his decision in the state-of-the-nation address he delivered before members of parliament and VIP guests on August 16, 2019.
The new capital city would not only be a symbol and an identity of the country, but would also represent the progress of the nation. Moving the capital city would also increase the equity and equality of the country's economic development, he said.
"This move is for 'Indonesia Maju' (Onward Indonesia) Vision. Long live Indonesia," he said.
The National Development Planning Agency (Bappenas) has pegged the total cost to move the state capital to reach nearly Rp466 trillion.
"Of the total cost of Rp466 trillion, the required state budget is only some Rp30.6 trillion," Brodjonegoro had remarked on June 15, 2019.
Related news: Indonesian capital likely to move to East Kalimantan
Translator: Rusman, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Suharto
Copyright © ANTARA 2019
