Langgampos.com - President Prabowo Subianto has reaffirmed his commitment to continuing the development of the Nusantara Capital City (IKN), a legacy project of the Jokowi-Ma’ruf Amin administration. This intention has been underscored during the first 100 days of his administration, with a budget allocation of IDR 48.8 trillion planned for the IKN development period from 2025 to 2029.
Public policy analyst from Trisakti University, Trubus Radiansyah, highlighted Prabowo's determination to carry out this project. "Prabowo is following the constitutional mandate to proceed with the IKN project. He has worked hard to assure the public, including investors, that this initiative will move forward," Trubus said in an interview with Liputan6.com on Friday (January 24, 2025). He added that efforts are underway to increase the project's budget.
As part of this commitment, President Prabowo has also issued a Presidential Regulation (Perpres) that redefines Jakarta's status from a Special Capital Region to a Special Region. While the physical relocation of the capital has not yet been fully realized, the regulation lays the groundwork for the IKN's development.
"The relocation itself remains pending, as the government is still focused on preparing the necessary infrastructure," Trubus explained.
Cautious Approach to Private Investments
Trubus emphasized the importance of not overly relying on private investors for the IKN project. Instead, he advocated for a more balanced public-private partnership model (KPBU), ensuring the government retains full control over the project.
"The government should not overly involve private investors because the IKN project must remain under its authority," he remarked.
He expressed optimism that the goal of making Nusantara the political capital by 2028 is achievable, even if the progress is gradual.
No Longer a Top Priority
On the other hand, Adi Prayitno, Director of Indonesia's Political Parameter Institute (PPI), observed that the IKN project is no longer a top priority under President Prabowo's administration. Instead, Prabowo appears to be focusing on programs that directly address the people's needs, such as free nutritious meals, free health check-ups, and affordable housing programs.
"Politically, relocating the capital to IKN does not seem to be a priority anymore. Its importance has been scaled back because Prabowo's administration appears to prioritize people-centric programs requiring significant budgets," Adi told.
He also noted that discussions about IKN among parliament members and political parties have become less enthusiastic compared to previous years. "The enthusiasm in parliament for IKN is no longer as vibrant as it once was. Discussions have noticeably quieted," Adi added.
Calls for Reassessment
Adi suggested that Prabowo reconsider the urgency of continuing the IKN project, given the existence of other strategic programs that could provide greater benefits to the public.
While the continuation of the IKN project could enhance Prabowo's public image, Adi warned that it should not overshadow other critical programs.
"If the IKN project disrupts other initiatives, it could negatively impact Prabowo's image. Moreover, the IKN project is strongly associated with Jokowi's legacy. The public hopes Prabowo will prioritize and showcase his flagship programs," Adi concluded.
(*)
