Home Affairs Minister Muhammad Tito Karnavian has informed that the new national capital, Nusantara, will be administered as an autonomous region to enhance the province’s future development.
Article 18B of Indonesia’s Constitution allows autonomous administration of administrative divisions; hence, the decision to designate an autonomous capital city has a Constitutional basis, he said.
“Indonesia has several regions with autonomous administration,” the minister noted in a statement issued in Jakarta on Wednesday.
National capital Jakarta, Aceh, Yogyakarta, and Papuan provinces are all administered as autonomous regions, and have their own distinct features, he said.
As an autonomous province, Aceh has the custom governance system of Wali Nanggroe, while its regional legislature is known as Aceh People’s Representative Council, he pointed out.
Jakarta’s distinction as the capital city is that leaders of administrative cities and districts are appointed by the governor, with no subdivision legislative assemblies established, the minister said.
The autonomous status for Papuan provinces, which have been codified by law, has allowed the provinces access to special autonomy funds, he noted. Further, only native Papuans are allowed to compete for the posts of governor and deputy governor, he said.
Meanwhile, Yogyakarta’s autonomous status has allowed the province to retain the unelected Sultan of Yogyakarta as governor, he added.
“While those provinces have their own distinction, the new national capital will have its distinction,” Karnavian remarked.
Autonomous status for new national capital Nusantara means that the capital leadership would be a cabinet-level office of “capital authority head,” he said.
National capital Nusantara will also be granted broad powers to enhance regional governance in relation to the division of authorities between the central and regional authorities, the minister informed.
“The capital authority will be granted broad powers to execute government duties, either delegated or concurrent duties, that would allow flexibility to the capital authority in managing the region without interference or conflict from ministries or government institutions, as well as other regional regulations,” Karnavian explained.
The minister confirmed that the government will enact a regulation on national capital governance, which is expected to be completed within a month.
Source: Antara News