MPR Reminds Jakarta's Readiness for the Future

The privilege of Jakarta must be preserved

Indonesia People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) Deputy Speaker Muhammad Hidayat Nur Wahid reminded all parties to monitor the future of Jakarta after the establishment of the IKN (Nusantara Capital City) in East Kalimantan through Law number 3/2022.

As a special area that has privileges, the House of Representatives (DPR) member from the electorate district (Dapil 2) hoped that Jakarta had not lost its privileges, even though it was no longer the nation's capital.

Fahira Idris Believes Public Transportation in Jakarta can Be a Role Model

"Currently, we have to prepare amendments to Law number 29/2007 if Law number 3/2022 is still ratified by the Constitutional Court (MK). It means the review is rejected," he said, Wednesday (3/30).

He explained the impact of changes to the legal basis, including the structure of the DPRD Level II and the direct election of regional heads. All this time, Jakarta's regional autonomy has only existed at the provincial level, thus the DPRD only has a level I, and direct regional head elections are only held to elect the governor.

As autonomous regions that have special, Aceh and Yogyakarta provinces also have DPRD up to level II. Likewise, the regional heads at level II are also directly elected by the people.

Thus, whatever the Constitutional Court's decision, all parties must be ready. After the IKN stipulation, the new regulation in place of Law number 29/2007 on Jakarta's special autonomy had to be passed two years later.

Even though President Joko Widodo had issued a statement that Jakarta would not be abandoned, which was an example of a case in several countries that had moved their national capitals, it was hoped that it could be a lesson.

It can be seen from the example of moving the capital of Myanmar from Yangon to Naypyidaw, then the capital of Kazakhstan from Almaty to Nur Sultan, and the capital of a country in Central America, Belize from Belize City to Belmopan did not have a good impact or the old abandoned city became dead.

He went on to say that currently the IKN has been decided and the most realistic thing to do is to oversee the process so as not to harm Jakarta. That's why he hoped that members of DPR, DPD, and DPRD could monitor the strengthening to improve the quality of Jakarta after it is no longer the capital city.

"The privilege of Jakarta must be preserved. What are the specialties, can we discuss it, it can be a center for business, trade, including religious tourism," he closed.