"Our current priority is not infrastructure. The IKN (development) continues, for the legislative and judicial areas," she remarked here on Friday.
Kusumastuti noted that this focus is based on a directive from President Prabowo Subianto. Meanwhile, the Nusantara Capital Authority (OIKN) will continue planning the IKN development.
"The OIKN will continue the development, and there is also a special fund from the Ministry of Finance allocated for the OIKN," she remarked.
She explained that the legislative and judicial areas will be built with sturdy and modern buildings.
She noted that projects earlier undertaken by the Ministry of Public Works in IKN, such as the Basilica Church and flats for civil servants, will first be subject to a study while still pursuing sustainability despite budgetary constraints.
"We have made a down payment. This means there are still funds available for 2025," she stated.
According to Kusumastuti, the review of IKN development aligns with President Prabowo’s priorities on sectors other than infrastructure.
"The president's focus is not on infrastructure development, so we need to support that," Kusumastuti affirmed.
Earlier, the Ministry of Public Works stated that the budget freeze for IKN development is not due to efficiency measures outlined in Presidential Instruction (Inpres) No. 1/2025 regarding state budget efficiency.
"This is different," the ministry's Secretary General, Mohammad Zainal Fatah, remarked.
He clarified that the freeze is a standard procedure typically implemented at the start of the year, ensuring that the blocked funds are part of the operational expenses.
"Funds can only be used for operations. Anything else is temporarily blocked," he emphasized.
Related news: Rp18.9 trillion spent on IKN development so far: Finance Ministry
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Translator: Ahmad F, Kenzu
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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