TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The House of Representatives’ (DPR) Governance Commission speaker Zainudin Amali has backed the government’s plan to move the capital city from Jakarta. The support has been expressed since President Joko Widodo instructed the National Development Planning Agency (Bappenas) head Bambang Brodjonegoro to study the plan.

According to Zainuddin, the capital city has to be moved bearing in mind the concerns about overpopulation faced by Jakarta as the center of business and government. “We have to do it,” he said yesterday at the parliamentary complex in Jakarta.

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If the plan does materialize, he said that the government would reap three benefits: addressing Jakarta’s overpopulation, achieving equitable development and encouraging urbanization to other cities.

"Jakarta’s problem with crowded [areas] can be eased, development can be spread to outside Java, and if [the capital city] is not moved, people will [continue to] flock to Jakarta," said the Golkar Politician.

Zainudin said that Indonesia must emulate other nations, such as Malaysia, the United States and Brazil who have two capital cities for business and government, respectively. To replace Jakarta, he suggests that government take into consideration the issues of population, congestion and economic growth. "On where the capital city should be move, let the Bappenas study it," he said.

Amali added that the DPR and the government have yet to officially discuss the issue. However, following recent statement made by the Bappenas head, he expects the plan to go ahead next year.

Earlier, Bappenas head Bambang Brodjonegoro said he has discussed in details about the plan to move the capital city, including its funding scheme, which will be concluded this year.

In 2018 or 2019, the government plan to start moving the center of government to other location. The aspects being taken into consideration would include location, estimated funding and city planning.

The government has proposed the plan because Java has seen faster economic growth compared to other islands. Nevertheless, if the study suggest that the capital city be moved to other location, the government will only move government offices, whereas Jakarta will remain the center of business and finance.

AHMAD FAIZ