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Analysis: Jokowi’s ambition to relocate capital city faces reality check
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Work continues on Indonesia’s new Presidential Palace in the future capital city of Nusantara, in Penajam Paser Utara, East Kalimantan, on July 11, 2024. The new city is scheduled to begin operating as the country’s new political center on Aug. 17, 2024, during Indonesia’s 79th Independence Day. (Photo by Yasuyoshi CHIBA / AFP) (AFP/Yasuyoshi Chiba)
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utgoing President Joko ‘’Jokowi’’ Widodo has yet to sign a presidential decree that will effectively relocate Indonesia’s capital city to Nusantara, East Kalimantan. The Nusantara project may face a serious impediment as president-elect Prabowo Subianto will focus on his own priority programs, although on various occasions he has demonstrated a willingness to carry on the new capital city development.
In a last-ditch effort to accelerate the capital city relocation and show to Prabowo that Nusantara is ready to replace Jakarta, Jokowi ran the government from the future capital city this week. The presidential plane landed at the Nusantara airport for the first time on Tuesday.
President Jokowi said that the airport will be ready for commercial flights, including those carrying haj pilgrims, sometime in December after improvements are made to the airport. Jokowi has also instructed Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi to change the status of the airport from that of a solely VVIP facility to a public, commercial hub.
Previously the Presidential Palace claimed Jokowi would spend the final 40 days of his term in Nusantara, starting from Sept 10 to Oct. 19. Not only will the plan be difficult to implement, but also less likely to convince the public that Nusantara is ready to host the seat of power. Jokowi’s reluctance to sign the decree on the capital relocation speaks volumes on this unpreparedness.
Jokowi said the belated completion of basic facilities, such as clean water and electricity, was the key consideration for the delay in the official relocation. The consequences of the signing of the decree are far-reaching. It will, for example, require the inauguration of Prabowo to take place in Nusantara, something that he and his allies do not want to happen.
In fact, the challenges facing the government when organizing the ceremony to commemorate the 79th anniversary of Indonesia’s independence on Aug. 17 already showed that Nusantara was not ready yet to fully serve as the capital city.
Nevertheless, during his stay in Nusantara, President Jokowi witnessed the groundbreaking of several foreign investment-funded projects in the city. The government, including Jokowi himself, has gone the extra mile to woo foreign investment in Nusantara.
