TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Vice President Jusuf Kalla asserted that the final decision to relocate the country’s capital city to East Kalimantan requires the permit issuance from the House of Representatives (DPR). The chosen province as announced by President Jokowi is merely an initial proposal backed with academic studies.

“The government and DPR will together make the ruling. So it’s not one-sided. This future capital to be then proposed to DPR,” said Kalla in his office, Central Jakarta, Tuesday, August 27.

He explained the relocation still takes a long process. Before being canvassed by legislators, the government must prepare the draft bill as the legal umbrella of the plan. The existing studies to support the draft bill must also be detailed further.

“The studies on every aspect are available, including on ecology. But it needs to be thorough from all sectors, such as administration, economy, and so on, that can later be academic ones,” said Kalla.

The Vice President went on to say that the government will strive to complete the move in 2024. However, he did not want the government to only eye the target while overstepping basic regulations.

“The procedures must adhere to the law. We want good capital, so of course, the planning must be good as well. And it requires mindful considerations,” Jusuf Kalla remarked.

Yesterday, August 26, President Jokowi tapped Penajam Paser Utara regency and Kutai Kartanegara regency as the new locations of the capital city. The President had also sent a letter to the DPR speaker Bambang Soesatyo in light of the planned relocation.

EGI ADYATAMA