Tenggara Strategics, Jakarta – To prove his commitment to the development of Nusantara Capital City, President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo insisted on working there, despite the ongoing construction and less than ready state for habitation. Regardless of the questions about the motive behind the decision. Jokowi is simply sending a message, especially to the incoming government, that the show must go on.
With preparations to hold Independence Day celebrations in the new capital underway, President Jokowi navigated the government from Nusantara from Jul 28 to July 30, while directly monitoring the construction of the infrastructure and supporting facilities. Nusantara is also welcoming thousands of civil servants who will attend the Independence Day commemoration on Aug. 17 and work there afterward. Jokowi, who is leaving office in October, has been pushing for acceleration of the capital relocation even though it is dealing with several construction setbacks, a dearth of foreign investment, as well as land and management problems.
In mid-July, Jokowi said that construction in Nusantara had reached only 15 percent completion, although several government infrastructures, such as the Presidential Office and the State Palace, had been completed. In addition, several support facilities have also been completed. Upon his arrival in Nusantara on Sunday, Jokowi inaugurated the Pulau Balang Long Span Bridge, which serves as a link to the toll road leading to Nusantara.
Jokowi's statements regarding the future capital have become more realistic in recent weeks, as he assures the public that the government is not rushing the construction of Nusantara and is following protocols. The president even admitted that his first few nights at the Garuda Presidential Palace had been a bit restless because of the ongoing construction. However, in an apparent attempt to allay concerns about the future of Nusantara, Jokowi claimed that progress was evident as he enjoyed an abundant water supply, good electricity and Internet connection.
With several government officials and social media influencers at his side, the president also rode a motorcycle around Nusantara's new toll road on Sunday. The move effectively highlights Nusantara's progress by having celebrities with large social media followings share content about their visits on their platforms. This strategy leverages their influence to reach a wider audience and generate public interest and support for Nusantara.
Recently, Jokowi promised foreign investment and began construction of office buildings and schools in Nusantara. But no foreign investment has been pledged, years after he announced his centerpiece project. When the project's top two officials abruptly quit last month without explanation, suspicions grew.
Although observers predict that President-elect Prabowo Subianto will prioritize his own signature free meal program, he has pledged to continue developing Nusantara after taking office. There has also been speculation as to whether Prabowo will follow in the footsteps of his soon-to-be predecessor by working from Nusantara. This would be difficult, however, given that the executive's partner, the House of Representatives, will remain in Jakarta.
Moreover, many of Prabowo's campaign promises have yet to be fulfilled and will require substantial funding from the state budget. Aside from free meals, promises such as sending Indonesian children to medical schools at home and abroad will most likely take precedence over Nusantara. Therefore, it is difficult to imagine that Prabowo's government will continue the development of Nusantara. Especially considering that building a city from scratch takes a considerable amount of time, possibly up to 30 years.
What we've heard
A source said the Palace is still seriously evaluating the readiness of the infrastructure in Nusantara. At the very least, the infrastructure needs to support the basic activities of the President.
Another source, however, revealed President Jokowi is worried Prabowo might not continue the development of Nusantara. The source said that there is discomfort within Prabowo's camp when discussing the continuation of the new capital city's development.
From an urban planning perspective, the arrangement for state institutions like the House of Representatives, the Constitutional Court, and foreign embassies, remains unclear. "However, Nusantara is being pushed to at least look good from an optical perspective," said the source.
Another source at the Palace said President Jokowi also plans to hold a plenary cabinet meeting at Nusantara. "Meanwhile, the inauguration of the new president will still take place in Jakarta," the source added.
[This content is provided by Tenggara Strategics in collaboration with The Jakarta Post to serve the latest comprehensive and reliable analysis on Indonesia's political and business landscape.]