Jokowi Blames Delayed Move to Nusantara Capital City on Heavy Downpours

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - President Joko Widodo or Jokowi has reportedly postponed his office relocation to the new capital city of Nusantara or IKN this July. He admitted that he was still evaluating the infrastructure readiness for his planned move to the new capital in East Kalimantan. He assured that once the infrastructure was ready, he would promptly establish an office there.

Initially, the state head planned to move offices to IKN in July 2024, coinciding with the completion of the first phase of building construction. Besides, the annual Independence Day ceremony was planned at IKN this year.

In a previous statement regarding his plans for an office at IKN, he expressed uncertainty about the move in the near future. The former governor of Jakarta made this statement after distributing humanitarian aid at Halim Perdanakusuma Air Base in Jakarta on Monday, July 8, 2024. 

Jokowi's Reasons for Delaying the Office Move to IKN

The outgoing President has given reasons for delaying the office move to IKN. Most recently, he cited heavy rain as the cause for the delay, stating that it disrupted construction progress. 

“The target was July, but look at IKN, it keeps raining every day. It was raining really hard, so a lot of work was delayed, and that's normal for big projects,” he said at Halim Perdanakusuma Air Base, East Jakarta, Tuesday, July 16.

He also emphasized that IKN is a long-term project, not something that can be completed in two or three years. “Maybe in 15-20 years. So don't imagine that all is done by the August 17 ceremony.”

On Monday, July 8, Jokowi expressed concerns about the lack of infrastructure readiness, particularly regarding water and electricity, as reasons for the delay. Given the current progress, he revealed that he did not want to rush the office move to IKN. 

He also claimed to have received a report from Minister of Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR) Basuki Hadimuljono regarding development at IKN, which indicated that the office construction was not yet fully completed.

Minister Basuki Hadimuljono also mentioned rain as a hurdle to development in IKN. He claimed that sections 6A and 6B of the IKN toll road had just been completed. However, he assured that access from Balang Island to IKN would be available in August 2024.

“There is only one problem there – it rains. Last month out of 30 days, only 8 days were light rain. The rest is heavy rain. Now we even use tents to pave, so it doesn't get rained on,” Basuki said when met at the Palace in Jakarta on Wednesday, July 10, 2024.

ANDIKA DWI | RADEN PUTRI | TIM TEMPO

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