JAKARTA, Nov 5: Indonesia has set the year 2024 as the deadline to move its capital from Jakarta to Kalimantan amid delays caused by the pandemic.
In a draft bill submitted last September, it specified that the president, with support from the parliament, gets to choose who governs the capital, eliminating the need for an election.
The bill is expected to be passed into law by parliament this year, allowing the $34 billion project to proceed before the 2024 presidential election.
The move can help President Joko Widodo or Jokowi secure his legacy in his last presidential tenure.
Jokowi reasoned that the relocation will help spread economic activities outside of Java island and narrow the income gap with the rest of the country.
Jokowi also deemed the move necessary, as Jakarta is currently suffering from severe traffic congestion, frequent flooding, and unhealthy air pollution.
Home to over 10 million people, Jakarta is also sinking fast, with two-fifths of the area falling below sea level and some parts are submerging at a rate of 20 centimeters a year.
However, not everyone agrees with the move after it sparked a debate regarding environmental issues like deforestation.
Indonesia, which has been contemplating the move for decades, would be the third country in Southeast Asia to relocate its capital cities after Malaysia and Myanmar. – TVS
