Relocating The Capital City

KOMPAS/RIZA FATHONI

Houses dot the green spaces of Handil village on Tuesday (27/8/2019) in Muara Jawa Ilir subdistrict of Muara Jawa district, Kutai Kertanegara regency, East Kalimantan. The two coastal districts of Muara Jawa and Samboja are adjacent to the border between Kutai Kertenagara regency and North Penajam Paser regency, which President Joko Widodo has selected as the location of the new Indonesian capital.

After President Joko Widodo publicly proposed the relocation of the country\'s capital city to East Kalimantan, the next step must be immediately prepared.

The discourse on relocating the capital of the country began when President Sukarno in 1957 proposed Palangkaraya, Central Kalimantan, as the capital city. President Soeharto proposed Jonggol, West Java, and President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono also raised the idea of designating a new capital city.

Jakarta is the center of government as well as the center of business, finance and trade. This multiple role is made possible because the supporting infrastructure is very good.

Kompas daily wrote a special report on how new cities grew around the capital, so that Jakarta grew into a very large region. The impact is strongly felt by the citizens of Jakarta. Traffic jams are part of everyday life. The carrying capacity of the city has declined with regard to the provision of clean water and adequate housing for every citizen. During the dry season like now, the air quality deteriorates, partly because of the inflow of vehicles from the surrounding towns to the capital. When the rainy season arrives, flooding is a threat to some residents, even though efforts to improve river flows are being carried out continuously.

President Joko Widodo, in an announcement made at the State Palace in Jakarta on Monday (26/8/2019), proposed parts of the East Kalimantan regencies of North Penajam Paser and Kutai Kartanegara as the location for the new capital city. In the ensuing political process, that proposal must be approved by the House of Representatives (DPR). At least five laws need to be revised, two new laws must be prepared, and another two laws could be either revised or replaced with new ones.

Reactions to the President\'s proposal varied. Besides support expressed by people who agree with the reasoning for the relocation, namely Jakarta\'s carrying capacity and equitable development, many also noted the importance of an in-depth study covering social, cultural, economic, political and environmental aspects.

Will the relocation of the capital reduce inequality in development between Java and other islands, reduce the burden on Jakarta and produce a new economic center outside Java? Concerns have arisen about the sustainability of Kalimantan\'s forests, one of the world\'s lungs which are also important for Indonesia.

Others demand transparency on the development master plan, including spatial planning and urban design, so as not to repeat the experience of Jakarta as a city growing irregularly. Another question pertains to how the local community will be prepared to accept major changes, as well as civil servants and their families who will have to move – not to mention the estimated Rp 466 trillion to be readied at an economically challenging time.

With so many questions from the public, a discussion process -- not just an announcement of the plan – is needed, so that everyone supports the plan. In essence, it is better to prioritize caution, even though it may take a longer time.