Jokowi Affirms No Issue for Independence Day Celebration Preparation in New Capital
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29 July 2024 16:31 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - President Joko Widodo or Jokowi said preparations for the Independence Day commemoration on August 17 in Nusantara Capital City (IKN) are ongoing and smooth-running. Although the clean-up and furniture installation in IKN has entered the final stages, major construction work continues.
"There’s no issue with the preparation for the August 17 ceremony,” said Jokowi at IKN, Penajam Paser Utara, East Kalimantan, quoted from a video statement on Monday, July 29, 2024.
Jokowi did not elaborate on his statement. He only said that he’s not prioritizing the construction of the Presidential Palace.
The government has planned to hold the 79th Indonesian Independence Day celebration both in Jakarta and the new capital, IKN. Jokowi will lead the ceremony in IKN, accompanied by President-elect Prabowo Subianto.
Meanwhile, Vice President Ma’ruf Amin will lead the event in Jakarta along with Vice President-elect Gibran Rakabuming Raka.
Previously, the Head of the Presidential Secretariat Heru Budi Hartono said on Wednesday that Jokowi would attend a joint prayer at IKN as part of the Independence Day celebration series.
Heru said that Minister of State Secretary Pratikno, Minister of Public Works and Housing Basuki Hadimuljono, and related ministers would hold a press conference on July 31 regarding the series of events to celebrate the Indonesian Independence Day.
An economic observer from UPN Veteran Jakarta, Achmad Nur Hidayat, believed that Indonesia's Independence Day celebration in the new capital city is planned in the interest of President Jokowi, not out of public interest. Achmad said the sustainability of IKN construction is hinged on the success of the upcoming August 17 celebration. Hence, the Independence Day celebration in IKN will still take place despite the incomplete construction.
"The success of the Independence Day celebration at IKN is critical since it could boost the project’s attractiveness for investors,” Achmad told Tempo, on Saturday, July 27, 2024. "But for the people, what is important is freedom from the burden of high prices, online loans, unemployment, and poverty."
DANIEL A. FAJRI
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