Indonesian Capital Development: Jokowi's Decision to Move Capital City in Spotlight Ahead of 2024 Presidential Election

Muhammad Fakhriansyah, CNBC Indonesia

Friday, 12/22/2023 06:20 WIB

Photo: Citra Indah Jonggol

Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia – President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has decided to move the capital to a new city called Nusantara which is in the Balikpapan Bay area, East Kalimantan. However, in the midst of the 2024 presidential election, the Indonesian capital development project is in the spotlight because one of the presidential candidates did not make a firm decision regarding the continuation of the project.

Please note, deciding to move the new capital city is a long and complicated journey. Every time a president comes to power, this discourse is always present and always creates momentary euphoria for the cities that are the objects of relocation.

In the Soekarno era, the capital was moved to Palangkaraya in the 1950s. When this was planned, Palangkaraya was not yet the big city it is now. Unfortunately, Sukarno’s big dream was never realized until his fall in 1966-1967.

Continuing into the Soeharto era there was also talk of moving the capital. This discourse only emerged in 1997 with the preparation of Jonggol as the new capital of Indonesia. Jonggol was chosen because it is still close to Jakarta and is connected to the Jagorawi toll road. However, this plan came at the wrong time.

We all know that in 1997 the economic crisis hit. This economic crisis then spilled over into a political crisis which caused Soeharto to fall from power for 32 years.

Photo: Chairman of the Democratic Party Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) delivers a year-end reflection speech at the JCC, Jakarta (detkFoto/Agung Pambudhy)
Chairman of the Democratic Party Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) delivers a year-end reflection speech at the JCC, Jakarta (detkFoto/Agung Pambudhy)

In the Reformation era, the discourse on moving the capital was not the main focus of the presidential era of BJ Habibie, Gus Dur and Megawati. Of course this can happen because Indonesia is focused on restoring its economic and political conditions. It was only in the Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) era that talk of moving the capital emerged again.

In September 2010, President SBY formed a small team to study the idea of moving the nation’s capital. As a result, a scenario emerged regarding the relocation of the country’s capital.

Firstdefend the Special Capital Region of Jakarta. Secondmoving the capital from Jakarta to a new area still on the island of Java. Thirdmoving the country’s capital outside Java.

During the SBY era, several candidates for the nation’s capital emerged. One of them is Palembang. Palembang is an old city that has long developed in South Sumatra. This river city happens to be associated with the Srivijaya kingdom in the past.

The issue of Palembang as a candidate for national capital is certainly welcomed by the people of Palembang. In 2011, this city was increasingly equipped with more public facilities such as LRT because the 2011 Sea Games were also held there.

Another candidate, East Lampung, is an area that was a destination for transmigration in the New Order era. This area was chosen because it is not far from food sources. East Lampung is the same as Palembang which is close to Belitang as the rice granary of South Sumatra.

Another candidate is Karawang, West Java. This city was chosen because it is close to Jakarta and is a city with good food sources. Apart from that, there are also Jonggol and Palangkaraya.

Every region whose area is being discussed as the capital will usually be welcomed with joy. Issues like this can push up land prices. However, until the end of their reign, these candidates were only limited to studies. SBY prefers to make Jakarta the nation’s capital with improvements here and there.

It was only in the Jokowi era that the discourse on moving the capital was actually implemented. Construction has begun. And the transfer of ministerial institutions and state apparatus is slowly starting to take place.

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