Indonesia's New Capital Project Faces Strong Opposition from Anies Baswedan

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. 

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.