JAKARTA, KOMPAS — Preparing to relocate the nation’s capital to North Penajam Paser and Kutai Kartanegara regencies in East Kalimantan involves not only readying the necessary regulations, budget and infrastructure, but also improving local human resources. This way, the residents in the region will be ready for the change and will not be marginalized.The central and local governments must pay attention to improving human resources in the region selected for the new capital. Such efforts must also be careful to respect the region’s social and anthropological values, especially in preparing for development.
The importance of improving local human resources in the location of the new capital was discussed at a meeting on Thursday (29/8/2019) in Yogyakarta between North Penajam Paser Secretary Nico Herlambang and academics from Gadjah Mada University.
On the sidelines of speaking at a UGM Community Service Program (KKN) on Thursday, North Penajam Paser Regent Abdul Gafur Mas’ud said that he would invite suggestions on relocating the capital from scholars at several universities. He added that he would request assistance to improve human resources in North Penajam Paser.
Despite the estimated 800,000 civil servants from jakarta that would be appointed to the regency for staffing the new capital, Gafur expressed his optimism that local human resources would not be sidelined. He also expressed his belief that as the population increased in the regency, more and more economic opportunities would emerge for local residents to take advantage of.
The North Penajam Paser regency administration was still waiting for Jakarta’s instructions regarding preparations to relocate the capital. The governance and development plans in North Penajam Paser and Kutai Kartanegara would be adjusted to accommodate the central government’s plans.
Meanwhile, the House of Representatives said that the relocation plans should be limited to relocating the center of government. The chair of the House Expert Body’s Capital Relocation Study Team, Inosentius Samsul, said that a focused relocation would be easier to achieve, as the regulations would be simpler and more cost-efficient.
“If we relocate only the center of government, the process of drafting the regulations, which involves the House and the government, will not be as complex as if we were to move the entire city,” said Inosentius.
Security
The National Police said that it anticipated the potential for social conflict in East Kalimantan in the wake of the announcement that the province was to house the new capital. Additional conflicts may arise as the price of land skyrocketed in the region.
“We will ensure security in the area to prevent speculators from competing and creating conflict. We will then maintain social conditions in the two regions so that the local people will welcome the government;s policies and not reject them,” said National Police chief Gen. Tito Karnavian.
At the same time, the police would prepare a draft design for the new National Police headquarters and relocation plans for certain divisions from Jakarta. The Defense Ministry would also undertake similar preparations regarding the military’s role in defending the new capital.
The ministry’s defense strategy director general Maj. Gen. Rizerius Eko said the government would establish a new defense unit for the new capital.
“Later, we will relocate certain divisions or establish new ones,” Rizerius said at the ministry’s 2020 Defense Plan discussion on Thursday. (CIP/BRO/AGE/SAN/EDN/NCA/ICH)