Indonesia passes law to relocate capital to remote Borneo
Indonesia's parliament has approved a bill to relocate the nation's capital from Jakarta to a jungled area of Kalimantan on Borneo island, the planning minister said on Tuesday.
The new state capital law, which provides a legal framework for President Joko Widodo's ambitious $32 billion mega project, stipulates how development of the capital will be funded and governed.
"The new capital has a central function and is a symbol of the identity of the nation, as well as a new center of economic gravity," planning minister, Suharso Monoarfa, told parliament after the bill was passed into law on Tuesday.
The new center will be called "Nusantara", a Javanese name for the Indonesian archipelago chosen by the president, Monoarfa announced on Monday.
Plans to relocate the government from Jakarta, a bustling megacity of 10 million people that suffers from chronic congestion, floods and air pollution, have been floated by multiple presidents, but none have made it this far.
Jokowi, as the president is known, first announced the plan in 2019, but progress was delayed by the pandemic as a low-carbon "super hub" that will support pharmaceutical, health and technology sectors and promote sustainable growth beyond Java island.
But critics say the law was rushed through with limited public consultation and environmental consideration.
Nusantara – which follows the creation of new capitals in countries like Brazil and more recently Myanmar – will be led by a chief authority whose position is equivalent to a minister, deputy chair of the bill's special committee, Saan Mustofa, said on Monday.
Among those being considered for the position, according to local media reports, are former research and technology minister, Bambang Brodjonegoro, and Jakarta's former governor, Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, better known as or Ahok.
(Source: Reuters)
New Zealand: Maori MPs protest in parliament with Haka war dance
Malaysia working on resolution to expel Israel from United Nations
Ambassador: Japan studying recognition of State of Palestine
IRIB chief, IRIB World Service head condole martyrdom of Hezbollah media chief
Iranian engineer quits Google over tech giant’s collaboration with Israel
Iran vows ‘proportionate response’ to Israeli aggression, says needs no permission for defense
VIDEO | Press TV's news headlines
Pope Francis urges probe into Israel’s genocide in Gaza
VIDEO | Activists decry use of Irish airport to arm Israeli regime
VIDEO | Israeli crimes
VIDEO | Trump’s pro-war cabinet
PressTV NEWSLETTER
now
This makes it easy to access the Press TV website
