TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto strongly encouraged President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo to continue the construction project of the new capital city in East Kalimantan. He made the statement while accompanying the President reviewing the access road to the new capital in KM 14 of the Balikpapan-Samarinda Toll Road.

“I said to the President, this is a strategic project. We must have the courage to move the capital city, separate the center of government from the center of finance, trade, industry,” said Prabowo on Tuesday, August 24.

He opined the government has been doing mature preparations to relocate the capital city. “I really support this plan, I suggest the President continue it.”

Earlier, the head of state said the capital relocation project would be continued. “The agenda of the new capital is still included in the plan,” he said.

Other than the Defense Minister, the President was accompanied by Public Works and Housing Minister Basuki Hadimuljono and East Kalimantan Governor Isran Noor.

Jokowi was seen monitoring the road and looking at the map while discussing with the entourage. “We are reviewing this in more detail because to build a new capital city, the most vital thing is the road infrastructure for access in order to transport logistics,” he said.

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