TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The National Development Planning Agency or Bappenas Head Suharso Monoarfa stated that the new capital city would be an autonomous province. The government made this decision after holding a limited cabinet meeting at the Presidential Office, Jakarta.

“It has been decided that the administrative type [of the new capital] will be an autonomous province,” said Suharso in a press conference today, December 16.

Suharso explained the new administrative center would boast an area of 256,000 hectares, and 56,000 ha of which was not included in the regional autonomy. “The special area will be managed by a city manager,” he said.

The acting chairman of the United Development Party (PPP) said the government would soon establish an authority body led by a ministerial-level official to prepare the province. "Its authority will be to prepare, build [the new capital], and manage the relocation process," Suharso added.

According to him, the government prioritizes the funding sources from outside the state budget, among them from foreign investors.

President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo expected the relocation of the capital city from Jakarta to East Kalimantan would be designed as a transformation towards smart economy. He said the capital relocation must mark better changes in every sector.

AHMAD FAIZ