Deputy speaker of Jakarta Regional House of Representatives (DPRD) Abdurrahman Suhaimi suggested the central government’s assets in the province to be handed over to the Jakarta authority following the national capital’s relocation to Nusantara, East Kalimantan, in the near future.
“I suggest the handover of central government assets (in Jakarta) to be operated by the Jakarta authority, as it could boost the likelihood of economic growth in the city,” Suhaimi stated at a public discussion on the effects of the capital relocation in Jakarta on Monday.
The deputy speaker expressed optimism that the central government’s assets in Jakarta, projected to reach Rp1,000 trillion (US$69 billion), would be operated by the Jakarta authority to generate additional revenues to address a likely decline in the province’s regional original revenue following the national capital’s relocation to East Kalimantan.
He highlighted the Gelora Bung Karno Sports Complex in Central Jakarta, currently under the central government’s control, as assets that can be handed over to the Jakarta authority.
“Those assets would surely boost Jakarta’s original regional revenue if the central government handed it over to us,” he remarked.
The central government must not abandon Jakarta after the capital relocation, and special policies must be enacted to boost Jakarta’s position in future, he remarked.
“The central government must not relocate the national capital and abandon Jakarta because it will make us miserable. New regulations must be enacted to protect Jakarta’s status in the future,” Suhaimi noted.
The capital relocation should also not burden residents in Jakarta and East Kalimantan, he added.
“I am afraid if the relocation will instead bring a great burden on the people if, after the relocation, Jakarta is weakened, but regions close to the new capital do not economically benefit by the new capital as expected,” Suhaimi cautioned.
Earlier, the House of Representatives had finalised the National Capital Bill as Law during the plenary session on Tuesday (Jan 18). The ratification provided a legal basis to commence the construction of the new national capital.
Source: Antara News