Luhut: Govt Focuses on COVID-19 Handling, Not New Capital Project
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15 April 2020 09:59 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Pandjaitan said the government had not yet evaluated the construction of the new capital as they were focusing on the mitigation of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
“We have not discussed whether [the construction of the new capital city] will be resumed or not. Let alone thinking of it, we are now focusing on this (COVID-19 handling),” said Luhut during a virtual press conference in Jakarta, Tuesday, April 14.
Despite there was no continuation so far, Luhut claimed that several investors, especially from Abu Dhabi or the United Arab Emirates, still considered the project as their investment opportunity.
According to him, since Abu Dhabi offered an investment, the government certainly responded to it positively. However, the government was still focused on handling the ongoing pandemic.
“But they are still working on the structure, because it is not about the capital project only, but also other infrastructures,” he added.
Luhut said that until now the new capital project had not seen extraordinary progress, and even stuck. President Jokowi also said that he had not yet conducted a further evaluation. “Maybe we will hold an evaluation or anything after this (COVID-19 pandemic ends), we don't know yet,” he said.
FRANCISCA CHRISTY ROSANA