TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesian President Joko Widodo or Jokowi shared that he had formed a team in secret nine years ago or in 2014 to delve into the possibility of relocating the capital city. After six years of research, the government then decided to move the capital of Jakarta to East Kalimantan, which was later named IKN or State Capital Nusantara.

He said the idea had been around since the era of the First President Soekarno and Second President Soeharto. Relocating the capital is necessary to achieve equitable economic growth and infrastructure, he informed.

“We have several options, several choices, and we have finally decided on our new capital: Nusantara,” Jokowi said while presiding over the groundbreaking ceremony of the Bank Indonesia office complex at IKN on Thursday, Nov. 2.

The President led the groundbreaking of ten projects in the new capital in North Penajam Paser this week. Groundbreaking for several projects began in September, and the next one was scheduled for December.

On Wednesday, the President laid the first stone for the VVIP airport project in Penajam District, North Penajam Paser Regency (PPU), the Mayapada Hospital project, Pakuwon Nusantara Building, Jakarta International School (JIS) project, Hermina Hospital project, and elementary school project.

Today, he was scheduled to inaugurate the Bank Indonesia office complex and Solar Power Plant (PLTS) projects at IKN.

Previously, an economist and director of the Institute for Demographic and Poverty Studies (IDEAS), Yusuf Wibisono, assessed that the IKN project is Jokowi's most problematic legacy as it was introduced in 2019 and quickly became one of the government’s strategic programs without public participation.

“This will be a heavy burden for whoever is elected as the next president,” Yusuf said on Monday, Oct. 30, 2023.

At present, there are three pairs of potential successors to President Jokowi and VP Ma’ruf Amin competing for the 2024 presidential election, namely Anies Baswedan-Muhaimin Iskandar, Ganjar Pranowo-Mahfud MD, and Prabowo Subianto-Gibran Rakabuming Raka.

DANIEL A. FAJRI | KHORY ALFARIZI