Deputy Chairman of the DPR RI Legislative Body (Baleg) Achmad Baidowi proposed making Jakarta the Legislative Capital. This proposal emerged in a working meeting between the government and the DPR when discussing the Draft Law on the Special Region of Jakarta (RUU DKJ), especially regarding the Problem Inventory List (DIM). Referring to the specificity of DKJ, Baidlowi questioned the possibility of adding meaning to that specificity.
“Could it be that in DKJ, for example, does that include the specialty of being the Legislative Capital or Parliament? “At the same time, for the legislature in DKJ, so that the specialties of DKJ can also be added to being the Parliamentary Capital or Legislative Capital,” said Baidowi in a working meeting with the government at the DPR Building, Monday (18/3).
Even though the center of activity remains in the Jakarta Special Region (DKJ), he added, the activities of these people’s representatives can still be carried out at any time in the Archipelago Capital (IKN) which is located in North Penajam Paser, East Kalimantan.
Secretary General of the Minister of Home Affairs Rejects Baidlowi’s Proposal
The government, represented by the Secretary General of the Ministry of Home Affairs (Kemendagri) Suhajar Diantoro, directly rejected the proposal. The government, he said, wants all related parties to have full residency at IKN, even though the transfer will be carried out in stages.
“Of course, we still respect the opinions of our friends, but allow the government to have a different opinion on this matter. We are the government, so don’t just leave us there. “We must always be together in the context of a unitary state,” said Suhajar.
When making this proposal, Baidlowi gave the example of South Africa which has three capitals, namely the executive capital in Pretoria, the judiciary in Bloemfontein and the legislature in Cape Town.
City Planning Expert: Differentiation of Capital City Functions Depending on Infrastructure
Urban planning expert Nirwono Yoga said the DPR’s proposal showed reluctance, not only from DPR members, but also the state civil apparatus (ASN), who reportedly did not actually want to move to IKN.
“This is not surprising, in fact it has indicated from the start that this (moving the capital) was more of a political (action) than a serious attempt to develop the city. “It takes at least 25 years to build a city,” said Nirwono.
He interpreted the plan to move and develop IKN in a hurry, including the ratification of the IKN Law, discussion of the DKJ Bill, as well as the physical development of the city, as more politically charged. This is because, according to Nirwono, ideally all elements of government consisting of the executive, legislative and judiciary would be in one city or region, as is the case in the United States government city of Washington DC.
Indonesia could adopt the system implemented by South Africa, which has several capital cities, as long as it has adequate technological infrastructure.
“If the DPR’s offer was to be in Jakarta, what they should have emphasized was ease of communication, for example. Meetings are supported by more sophisticated technology and infrastructure, so requiring them to be in Jakarta is not a problem. So it’s not for reasons like it or not. Moreover, yesterday he said he requested that the DPR Building be built last. That shows reluctance. So there must be a more rational reason. “One of them is the way of thinking and working that must be changed,” he explained.
Experts: Are All Parties Ready to Work “Out of the Box?”
The working pattern is called Nirwono “out of the box” This could be implemented in government work systems in the next five to ten years, thus making Jakarta a global city. That way, the work system will not require face-to-face meetings as is always done today. If all aspects are adequate, then Jakarta could become a legislative city.
“So the physical world we are building is a world where the city is a virtual city. Buildings in a city context are only more of a kind of symbol, but in practice we work, carry out activities, operations can actually be anywhere and at any time. “So if the DPR dares to say that Jakarta is a legislative city, Nusantara is an executive city, for example Surabaya is a judicial city, and the reasons are strongly formulated, that will actually change the way the government works as a whole,” he said.
Nirwono also referred to a book published in the United States about urban trends in the future, where in about 10 years, the way people view cities for activities is thought to change completely. “Unfortunately, this was not adopted at IKN,” he said.
“We are still building the archipelago city, which can be said to be actually starting to become outdated. We are imposing a city with a Presidential Palace, ministerial offices. So it’s still as we imagined, Jakarta was moved there. And actually, for today’s children, it is no longer necessary. “The way they work in the office is no longer the same,” he said.
“Is it wrong, if the children work in Jakarta, the office is in the archipelago. The important thing is that the targets they ask for can be completed, for example. “So what is important is the way of working that must change, so that in this context how the city planning changes,” he concluded. (gi/em)
