Liputan6.com, Jakarta - The project of the so-called new capital of Indonesia is facing serious opposition from presidential candidate Anies Baswedan. The project is deemed inappropriate in the midst of poverty in Indonesia. This criticism marks the first opposition of President Joko Widodo's flagship program in East Kalimantan during the 2024 election season.
During a public discussion in Solo, Middle Java, Anies questioned the merit of building a new capital Nusantara "in the middle of forest" instead of focusing on developing the existing cities.
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President Joko Widodo often uses equality to promote the expensive new capital project, and that development should not be Javacentric, and therefore a region in East Kalimantan is chosen as the location to build the new capital.
"If wishing for equality in Indonesia, then develop small cities into middle [cities]. Middle cities into big cities in the entire region of Indonesia, not merely building one city in the middle of forest," said Anies Baswedan last week.
Anies's campaign team have doubled down the criticism by saying poverty should be prioritized over building a new capital.
According to the government, Indonesia requires Rp110 trillion (USD 7.1 billion) to develop the first stage of Nusantara
"We Indonesian people mostly still live in poverty, how come that we build a grand palace like that [in the new capital]? That's about morality, OK. Not about the laws," said Jazilul, assistant coach of Anies Baswedan's campaign team.
"Is it ethical, morally, if many of our people are still poor, but we build a palace? It isn't," Jazilul remarked.
Laws Can Be Revised
The argument from the government's side is that the parliament already passed the law to develop the new capital, therefore the project must go on. Jazilul said the laws could be revised.
"That is why we have to win first so the decision could be taken for the best," said Jazilul who is also the deputy leader of National Awakening Party (PKB).
PKB is actually part of President Jokowi's coalition, but the leader of PKB Muhaimin Iskandar has been chosen as Anies Baswedan's running mate.
Muhaimin Iskandar, although rarely makes waves in headlines, is a seasoned politician who has held important political posts in three different presidential eras.
He was a deputy speaker of the House of Representatives during President Megawati era, appointed as the minister for labors and transmigration in President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's cabinet, and now again as the deputy speaker of the House.
The Anies Baswedan-Muhaimin Iskandar duo is abbreviated as AMIN ("ameen") by their supporters.
Aries Setiawan contributed to this report.
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