TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - President Joko Widodo or Jokowi determined to relocate the country’s capital city to Kalimantan. During an exclusive interview with Tempo, the President said the relocation will take place in 2023 as soon as the State Palace building is ready.

“When the ministerial buildings and the state palace are ready, [we will move] in 2023, or 2024 at maximum,” said the President on Monday, August 18.

He said the land clearing will mark the capital relocation project. In this stage, the government will begin to relocate infrastructure facilities, such as buildings and office spaces, to support the ministerial works.

After then, all government officials will reside in the new capital. The President will assure they will not go back and forth to Jakarta-Kalimantan.

The new capital construction will be developed gradually, he underlined. Following the first development project, the second project will be the construction of stations, universities, non-governmental offices, and high institutions.

The President expressed his optimism that the capital relocation will be realized before his office term ends. “We are learning from Putrajaya (Malaysia) that capital relocation takes only 3 years. This relocation is a must,” he said.

According to him, the government has agreed on the project. The public also strongly support and urge the realization.

Previously, President Jokowi officially stated the planned relocation of the capital city during his state speech on August 16. He requested the permission and support from the House of Representatives (DPR), the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR), and Regional Legislative Councils (DPRD), and the public.

The government is predicted to need funding of Rp485 trillion to construct the new capital city covering 40,000 hectares, which will accommodate 1.5 million people. The state budget, meanwhile, will earmark Rp93 trillion for the project.

TEMPO TEAM | FRANCISCA CHRISTY ROSANA