Suharso: New Capital Unlike Aladdin’s Lamp
National Development Planning Minister Suharso Monoarfa said to build the capital city is unlike rubbing Aladdin’s magic lamp. Even the integrated city in South Tangerang took around 20 years to complete.
Minister of National Development Planning Suharso Monoarfa during a discussion with the media crew about the 2022 Development Goals and Government Work Plan, at the Bappenas Building, Jakarta, Thursday (2/9/2021).
On Wednesday (29/9/2021), the government planned to deliver the Presidential Letter introducing the Bill on the Capital of the State (IKN) to the House of Representatives (DPR). The Bill will regulate the development, financing method and management of the new capital city.
In a special online interview with Kompas on Tuesday evening (28/9), National Development Planning Minister/Head of the National Development Planning Agency (Bappenas) Suharso Monoarfa acknowledged that discussions on the new capital had invited arguments regarding the pros and cons of the project. Suharso stated that the government had considered the input, including the various limitations arising as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. The interview is excerpted below.