Why Was The Decision To Relocate The Capital Taken?
In 2019, Indonesian President Joko Widodo had first announced the plan to relocate the capital city to the province of East Kalimantan.
While announcing the plan to change the capital in 2019, Widodo said environmental issues in Jakarta, the world's most populous island, have been increasing. Also, the city has been reportedly experiencing financial inequality.
"The government has conducted an in-depth study, especially in the last three years. As a result, the most ideal location for the new capital city is in East Kalimantan, partly in Kab. Penajam Paser Utara and some in Kab. Kutai Kartanegara," Joko Widodo had tweeted.
Jakarta, which sits on a swampy land on the large island of Java, has become overpopulated and polluted. Ever since Indonesia became independent in 1949, Jakarta has been the country's capital. Moreover, it is sinking at an alarming rate because of the over-extraction of groundwater.
Air pollution is a serious issue in the city, which has a population of almost 11 million people. Due to traffic jams, police convoys are required to escort government ministers.
Jakarta has been sinking and experts have said that many parts of the city would submerge by 2050 if immediate steps were not taken.
The government hopes that it can relieve Jakarta of its problems, including chronic congestion, floods, and air pollution, by building a new capital in East Kalimantan.
"The location is very strategic - it's ok the centre of Indonesia and close to urban areas," Widodo was quoted as saying in a televised speech by a BBC report. Widodo added that the new location was at "minimal" risk of natural disasters.
Why Has East Kalimantan Been Chosen?
East Kalimantan is a mineral-rich region famous for its jungles and orangutan population. It harbours a population of 3.7 million people, according to the most recent census, media reports said.
The new state capital law provides a legal framework for President Widodo's ambitious $32 billion mega project, which will be one of the biggest infrastructure projects the Indonesian government has ever undertaken.
The project sets forth how development of the capital will be funded and governed, according to an article published by The Jakarta Post, an Indonesian newspaper.
Quoting Suharso Monoarfa, head of the National Development Planning Agency (BAPPENAS) of Indonesia, media reports said that the new capital has a central function and is a symbol of the identity of the nation, as well as a new centre of economic gravity.
What Plans Does The Government Have For Nusantara?
Suharso announced on Monday that the new capital will be called "Nusantara", which means "archipelago" in Javanese.
Though Widodo, also known as Jokowi, had announced the plan in 2019, progress was delayed due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Indonesia envisions the new capital as a low-carbon "super hub" that will support pharmaceutical, health, and technology sectors and promote sustainable growth beyond Java island, The Jakarta Post article said.
According to the new law passed by the Parliament on Tuesday, the new capital will be spread over an area of 56,180 hectares in East Kalimantan province, media reports said.
The law states that the capital has a special administrative status that will allow the president to appoint its head, with approval from Parliament.
Nusantara is being planned as an environmentally-friendly city. However, critics argue that the development of Nusantara could threaten one of the world's oldest rainforests.
Nusantara will derive all its energy from renewable sources, according to a Bloomberg article. The city will dedicate 10 per cent of its area to produce food and ensure 80 per cent of its mobility is supported by public transport, cycling, or walking.
An express connection between the airport and the seat of government, which takes less than 50 minutes, is expected by 2030, the article said.
Nusantara will be built in five phases. The first phase will start in 2022, and continue through 2024, said Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati.
In the beginning of the initial stage, decisions will be made regarding the location of the centre of government and how to develop the supporting infrastructure. The minister said that this could be included in the budget for boosting economic recovery.
Why Do Some People Oppose The Decision To Change The Capital To Nusantara?
According to critics, the law was rushed through with limited public consultation and environmental consideration.
Critics have also said that the construction of the new city would lead to the expansion of palm-oil plantations and logging in an area rich in diverse wildlife and lush rainforests, according to a BBC report.
Groups representing the indigenous people of Borneo have said that their environment and culture could be endangered by the move.
Some people on social media have argued that the name 'Nusantara' could prove to be confusing because it is an old Javanese term used in Indonesia to refer to the archipelago nation as a whole, the BBC report said.
Suharso said that Widodo chose the capital's new name because it reflected Indonesia's geography and was iconic internationally, according to the BBC report.
Kalimantan is one of the few locations on Earth where orangutans live in their natural habitat, because of which there is concern from environmental groups about endangered species.
Which Other Countries Have Changed Their Capitals?
Several countries have changed their capitals before Indonesia. These include Brazil, Nigeria, Kazakhstan, Myanmar, among others.
In 1960, Brazil changed its capital city from Rio De Janeiro to Brasilia. Nigeria replaced Lagos with Abuja as the country's capital in 1991.
Kazakhstan relocated its capital from Almaty to Nur Sultan in 1997. Indonesia will be the third country in Southeast Asia to relocate its capital city.
In 2003, next-door neighbour Malaysia had moved its administrative capital from Kuala Lumpur to Putrajaya. In 2006, Myanmar changed its capital from Yangon to Naypyidaw.