Nafsu Politik Ibu Kota Baru | Opini Tempo

Summary

The script discusses concerns over the development of the new Indonesian capital, Nusantara, highlighting potential issues such as minimal public participation in the relocation policy, geological challenges, and the project's hasty and secretive planning. It criticizes the use of national funds during the COVID-19 pandemic for a project with unclear economic benefits. The upcoming government, led by Prabowo Subianto, is urged to halt the project, which is seen as politically driven and financially unsustainable, with the new capital's inauguration planned amidst incomplete facilities and a lack of private investment.

Takeaways

• 🏛️ The new government should halt the development of Nusantara Capital City due to potential ghost city issues in the future, according to Anton Septian.
• 🔍 Bambang Susantono and Doni Rahayu, former heads of the Capital City Authority, opened the curtain on the flawed planning and process of the capital's development.
• 🗓️ The slow pace of development since President Joko Widodo announced the plan in 2019 has been due to fundamental issues, including minimal public participation in the relocation policy.
• 📜 The government's study on the relocation plan was never publicly opened, and there was no adequate explanation for choosing East Kalimantan as the new capital site.
• 🌋 Geological concerns are highlighted, with the potential capital site being on top of coal deposits, causing difficulties in water supply and prone to fires and illegal coal mining.
• 🔥 The area is also a hotspot for geological instability, with potential for releasing toxic gases and being prone to fires.
• 💼 The formation of laws supporting the development was rushed and secretive, with public consultations being more for formality than actual input.
• 💰 The financial burden of the project is immense, with Jokowi planning to spend 1.8 trillion from the state budget for infrastructure and government buildings.
• 🚧 Despite the allocation of funds, private investment has been slow to materialize, even with efforts to attract foreign investment.
• 📉 The project is criticized for not directly impacting the economy and for being a misallocation of resources during a pandemic.
• 📉 Prabowo Subianto, the incoming president, has indicated in the Qatar Economic Forum that he may take a different strategy, considering the project politically driven and financially unsustainable.

Q & A

What is the main concern raised by Anton Septian regarding the development of the new capital, Nusantara?

Anton Septian is concerned that the development of Nusantara could lead to a 'ghost city' in the future due to poor planning and lack of public participation in the relocation policy.

Who are Bambang Susantono and Doni Rahayu, and what is their role in the development of Nusantara?

Bambang Susantono and Doni Rahayu are the former head and deputy head of the Capital City Authority of Nusantara, respectively. They were responsible for unveiling the flaws in the development process of the new capital.

Why was the public participation in the policy of relocating the capital very minimal since its announcement in 2019?

The government's study on the relocation plan was never made public, and they did not provide adequate explanations, leading to minimal public participation in the decision-making process.

What are the geological concerns regarding the location of the new capital in East Kalimantan?

The location is geologically unstable due to the presence of coal deposits beneath the surface, which could cause difficulties in obtaining groundwater supply and increase the risk of fires.

How does the illegal coal mining in the surrounding area affect the development of Nusantara?

Illegal coal mining in the area could contribute to environmental degradation and pose risks to the stability and sustainability of the new capital's development.

What is the criticism regarding the establishment of laws that support the development of Nusantara?

The establishment of laws supporting the development was rushed and closed off, with public consultations being held in secret, seemingly to merely obtain a stamp of approval rather than genuinely seeking public input.

What is the financial implication of the new capital project for the Indonesian government?

The government plans to spend 1.8 trillion from the state budget, revenue, and expenditure for the development of Nusantara, which includes building state palaces, presidential offices, government offices, ministerial houses, and initial infrastructure.

How does the allocation of funds for Nusantara affect other government projects and the economy?

The allocation of funds for Nusantara might lead to a misallocation of resources, potentially neglecting other pressing issues such as congestion and floods in Jakarta, and not directly stimulating the economy.

What is the expectation regarding private investment in the Nusantara project?

Although President Joko Widodo has made efforts to attract foreign investment, there has been a lack of substantial private investment, with most of the funding coming from the state budget.

What is Prabowo Subianto's stance on the Nusantara project, and how does it differ from the current administration's approach?

Prabowo Subianto, who is set to take power in October 2024, has indicated that he will take a different strategy, considering the Nusantara project as political and should be financed by limited domestic resources, suggesting a halt to the project.

How does the script describe the management of the Nusantara project from planning to supervision?

The script describes the management of the Nusantara project as flawed, with unrealistic targets, limited time for construction, and a lack of coordination between different government institutions responsible for various aspects of the project.