Time to Spread Indonesia’s Centers of Power
The current administration’s proposal to move the center of government to outside Java is a welcome breath of fresh air to realize the vision of our archipelago in a more concrete way.
This is a real effort to save Java from its huge burden and a strategic step in ensuring an even distribution of the population (demography/human resources) and natural resource management, as well as regional growth, economic equality, socio cultural equality and social justice. It will also reinforce Indonesians’ love for the motherland in line with the nation’s historical trajectory.
Thus far, Java – and especially Jakarta – has been the center not only of government and state power, but also of trade, education, culture and tourism. We have all seen that, because of the convergence of state power, Java has had to bear a huge burden, especially in relation to urbanization. In reality, Java’s population is now larger than its urban carrying capacity.
On the other hand, due to the over-centralization of state power in Jakarta, which is geographically located along the lower edge of Indonesia’s island chain, the capacity (and attention) for development can be found primarily in and around Java. Because of this, the disparity between Java and regions outside Java – especially in economics, welfare and population –remain crucial issues today. The same can be said for defense. The over-centralization of state powers in Jakarta has encouraged the convergence of security and defense centers on Java. Control and security over all Indonesian territory are a problem that still needs continuous improvement.
Spread evenly
We can take inspiration from South Africa in moving our centers of state power. South Africa splits its centers of state power (the executive, legislative and judiciary) in three separate cities, which are located–using an imaginary axis running northeast to southwest –roughly along the middle of South Africa.
The country’s center of executive power lays in Pretoria, some 58 kilometers from Johannesburg. It is here that you will find the Presidential Palace, ministries, state agencies and foreign embassies. In the past, Johannesburg was South Africa’s sole capital city and center of government and trade, but is now home “only” to the Constitutional Court.
The legislative capital is Cape Town, a huge harbor city on the southwestern coast of South Africa.
The judiciary capital, meanwhile, is Bloemfontein. This city is important in the history of law enforcement and justice in South Africa. It was in this city that, when the Boer War erupted, British soldiers “imprisoned” Boer women and children. Some 28,000 Boer women and children are believed to have died here. To commemorate the bitter experience of the Boer War, a National Women Commemoration Monument was built in the city.
The move to split the centers of state power as carried out by South Africa is proven to be able to help boost regional development, economic equality, justice and one’s love for the nation as a result of its historical context.
We can take inspiration from South Africa by refreshing our mindset with the conceptual doctrine of Nusantara. We all agree that static elements (geography and terrain, demography and natural resources) must be properly managed so that our citizens can fairly and equally enjoy the wealth of the nation’s natural resources. Likewise, dynamic elements (ideology, politics, economic, social culture, defense and security) must be developed in line with basic principles, such as justice.
Therefore, it is not in defiance of the Nusantara doctrine to split the branches of state power in Indonesia to four of its major and centrally located islands – Sumatra, Kalimantan, Sulawesi and Papua – as a form of fair representation. The true central axis of Indonesia lies between 4º N and 12ºS latitude and between 96º E and 140º E longitude. The cities nearest to Indonesia’s true median that are equipped with adequate infrastructure deserve the honor to be named Indonesia’s centers of government.
Where is the best location for Indonesia’s centers of government? I believe that the best location for the executive government will be in Sumatra, more precisely in Bukittinggi, West Sumatra. Historically, Bukittinggi was once the Indonesian capital when Sjafroedin Prawiranegara received the mandate from then-president Soekarno and then-vice president Muhammad Hatta to establish and lead the Emergency Governemnt of the Republic of Indonesia (GMPF), after the two founding fathers were arrested by the Dutch during the Second Military Aggression of December 1948-January 1949.
Bukittinggi was also once the capital of West Sumatra and Central Sumatra. It is also the birthplace of numerous historical politicians, including Mohammad Hatta and Assaat, who were respectively the nation’s first vice president and the acting president from December 27, 1949 to August 15, 1950. Today, Bukittinggi has grown into a major city with good infrastructure that protects the city against natural disasters (floods, earthquakes and tsunamis).
Meanwhile, the best place for the legislative (DPR, DPD) and the consultative (MPR) capital is in Kalimantan, specifically Palangkaraya, Central Kalimantan. As a collective representation of the nation’s citizens, it is appropriate to locate the legislative power in the true center of Indonesia. Now is the time to realize Soekarno’s dreams. Palangkaraya is presently a large city with modern facilities and an international airport. It is also connected to Banjarmasin in South Kalimantan by Barito Bridge,which was inaugurated on April 24, 1997 by president Soeharto.
As for the judiciary center (the Supreme Court and the Constitutional Court), I propose Sulawesi. There are three cities relatively close to Indonesia’s true median: Makassar, Mamuju and Palu. Of these three, the closest to the median is Mamuju. Although it is not as popular as the cities suggested as the executive and legislative capitals, Mamuju is well developed with good infrastructure. The city is adequate as a judiciary capital, as the judicial institutions are not as large as those of the executive and legislative administrations. Becoming the center of the judiciary will surely boost the city’s development even further. This proposed judiciary capital is also not too far from the legislative capital of Palangkaraya.
Another significant element of state power is the Supreme Audit Agency (BPK). It is better if the BPK is established on the eastern part of Indonesia. The two best choices are Ambon in Maluku and Sorong in West Papua. Both are now large cities with adequate basic infrastructure. However, in consideration of their proximity with the true center of Indonesia and of equally distributing the centers of government, Sorong is the better choice. The city is also part of the region that was once called Irian Jaya, with its heroic history of Indonesian forces reclaiming it from Dutch colonial forces.
Meanwhile, Bank Indonesia, which represents Indonesia’s state power in monetary administration, should remain in Jakarta.
More than just Java
We will gain many benefits from splitting and relocating the centers of state power in the country. Among these are: (1) a more even population distribution; (2) accelerated reduction of inequality between Java and non-Java; (3) accelerated development of education and intellectual quality; and (4) a reinforcement of our love for the homeland, as state power no longer exists in Jakarta alone, but has been spread out over four other major islands.
Relocating these centers of power to the four islands will also impact the nation’s security and defense, which will become stronger with improved coverage, as the centers of government do not exist only in Jakarta, but in other regions as well.
What about Java? The island, and continuing eastward to East Nusa Tenggara, should be cultivated as center of education, culture and tourism. Thus far, these three are identified with Java, but the island carries additional burdens due to its status as the center of government. By moving the branches of power outof Jakarta, the burden on Java – especially due to urbanization – will be reduced.As a result, Java, and especially Jakarta, can be beautified, as was the case with South Africa’s Johannesburg, which has roughly the same population as Jakarta.
Certainly, such a mass relocation cannot be undertaken in a heartbeat. Facilities must be built, especially offices and buildings for foreign missions. This can be done in stages. Most importantly and above all, spreading the branches of government will strengthen our nationalism and love for our homeland. The Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia is not just Jakarta or Java. Indonesia belongs to all Indonesians, and this can be realized for real.
BUN YAMIN RAMTO
Alumnus of the National Resilience Institute (Lemhannas) KRA XIV/1981 and Professor of Public Policy at Padjadjaran University