The Agglomeration Area Council—the authority that will oversee development in Jakarta and its surrounding cities and districts after Nusantara in East Kalimantan replaces Jakarta as the national capital—will be regulated by the Jakarta Special Region Bill.
"This means that when the president appoints the vice president or others (as the head of the council), there will be no constitutional issues," said Supratman Andi Agtas, DPR Legislation Body chairperson, while presiding over a working meeting in Jakarta.
The new agreement is an alternative to an earlier proposal to make the vice president the ex-officio head of the Agglomeration Area Council, he said.
Agtas added that the appointment process will be further regulated by a presidential regulation, and the presidential appointment will be made through a presidential decision.
Meanwhile, DPR Legislation Body member Mardani Ali Sera expressed his agreement that the Agglomeration Area Council head should be appointed by the president.
"I agree with the draft because, within our presidential system, there will be no issue if the president does appoint the vice president (to head the council)," Sera stated.
He highlighted that the council will be distinct from the Papua Special Autonomy Development Acceleration Steering Committee (BP3OKP), which is headed by the vice president, as Greater Jakarta's development is much more sensitive to national development.
"Papua is not that sensitive, but Greater Jakarta is not only sensitive, but highly sensitive," the legislator stressed.
Home Affairs Minister Tito Karnavian said on Wednesday that the government has proposed that the vice president lead the Agglomeration Area Council since that would help tackle complex cross-ministerial problems.
"The president and vice president already address complex problems that necessitate coordination between ministries," Karnavian said at a meeting with DPR's Legislation Body.
"The president's responsibilities are wide-ranging, so the vice president can focus on managing these specific tasks," he added.
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Translator: Melalusa Susthira, Nabil Ihsan
Editor: Anton Santoso
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