Yustinus Paat, Jakarta – The House of Representatives (DPR) has approved the Special Capital Region of Jakarta (DKJ) Bill, paving the way for Nusantara in East Kalimantan to become the new national capital. Jakarta will remain as the nation's capital until the President issues a decree for relocation to Nusantara in East Kalimantan.
"Shall the Special Capital Region Bill be approved for enactment into law?" asked DPR RI Chairperson Puan Maharani during the Plenary Session held at the DPR RI Building in Jakarta on Thursday.
Most attending members and faction representatives at the DPR Plenary Session agreed with the question. However, the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) opposed the ratification of the DKJ Bill.
Ansory Siregar, a PKS member, criticized the rushed legislative process of the DKJ Bill. According to Ansory, the DPR should have visited the new capital Nusantara before approving the law.
"Let's not rush, what's wrong with taking a look first? I heard that the DPR building in Nusantara hasn't been constructed yet. He said it would be built after DPR's approval. The leadership seems to be in a hurry," Ansory expressed.
Additionally, Ansory highlighted the lack of meaningful public participation in the DKJ Bill's discussion process. He also mentioned the significant opposition from the public, with around 95 percent of netizens on PKS faction social media accounts rejecting the DKJ Bill due to its rushed discussion.
One of the contentious points of the DKJ Bill that has garnered public attention is regarding the Greater Jakarta agglomeration area. According to Article 51 of the DKJ Bill, the agglomeration area encompasses the territories of Jakarta Special Capital Region, Bogor Regency, Tangerang Regency, Bekasi Regency, Bogor City, Depok City, Tangerang City, South Tangerang City, Bekasi City, and now Cianjur Regency.
The government perceives the harmonization, organization, and evaluation of agglomeration area development as crucial due to numerous shared issues, ranging from pollution, traffic, floods, and population migration, to health concerns. Therefore, the government proposed that the agglomeration area be led by the vice president (VP) as the Chair of the Agglomeration Area Council.
DPR, along with the government, agreed to remove provisions in the DKJ Bill that stipulate the transfer of central government-owned assets to the DKJ Provincial Government after it ceases to be the national capital.
This consensus abolishes Article 61 of the DKJ Bill, which states that three central government-owned assets, namely the Gelora Bung Karno Area, the National Monument (Monas), and the Kemayoran Area, would be transferred to the DKJ Provincial Government after it no longer serves as the national capital. These assets will remain under the government's control.
The Indonesian House of Representatives Legislative Body and the government have also agreed to change the rules for the Jakarta Gubernatorial election. Instead of requiring a 50+1 majority vote, the election will now be decided in a single-round election where the candidate with the majority vote is declared the winner.
The DKJ Law encompasses regulations concerning the granting of 15 special authorities to the Jakarta Special Administrative Region Government. These special authorities include public works and spatial planning; public housing and residential areas; investment; transportation; environment; industry; tourism and creative economy; trade; education; health; culture; population control and family planning; population administration and civil registration; marine affairs and fisheries; and labor affairs.
On March 8, Presidential Special Staff for Legal Affairs, Dini Purwono, affirmed that Jakarta will remain the nation's capital until the President issues a decree for relocation to Nusantara in East Kalimantan.
"According to Article 39 of Law Number 3 of 2022 regarding the Capital City of the State (IKN), the legal status of Jakarta as the capital has not concluded," said Dini in Jakarta.
The initial law designating Jakarta as the Capital City of the State lost its status on February 15, 2024, due to the enactment of the IKN Law on Feb. 15, 2022.
Regarding the precise timing of the presidential decree, Dini mentioned that it is entirely dependent on the President's authority. "Nusantara will only legally become the national capital when the presidential decree is issued," she explained.