The book "The Road to the Archipelago" Becomes a Scientific Reference for the Development of the Archipelago's Capital City

BRIN and ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute Singapore launched the book ”The Road to the Archipelago: Process, Challenges, and Opportunities”. This book can be used as a scientific reference for various discourses on the development of the Archipelago's Capital City.

The following article was translated using both Microsoft Azure Open AI and Google Translation AI. The original article can be found in Buku ”The Road to Nusantara” Jadi Rujukan Ilmiah Pembangunan Ibu Kota Nusantara

KOMPAS/BAHANA PATRIA GUPTA

Visitors taking photos together at the Zero Point of the new Capital City of Indonesia (IKN) were seen from the air in Sepaku District, North Penajam Paser Regency, East Kalimantan on Thursday (28/7/2022). Since its opening, many visitors from outside the region have come to the area to find out about Indonesia's new prospective capital city.

JAKARTA, KOMPAS — Various discourses or debates regarding the Capital City of the Archipelago or IKN are often not based on sources or references with strong scientific references. The preparation of the book The Road to Nusantarafrom researchers andacademicians is expected to be a reference in answering the IKN's discourses and debates.

Researchers and academics involved in compiling the book The Road to Nusantara: Process, Challenges, and Opportunities include the Political Research Center of the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), Institute of Southeast Asian Studies (ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute) Singapore, and Brawijaya University.

This book presents three chapters, namely process, challenges, and opportunities. Process is a chapter thatreviews the timeline of the continuity of the classic plan for relocating the capital city with the context of current issues, such as regulations, spatial planning, and funding.

Then, the challenges chapter examines various challenges, especially building harmony and synergy between immigrants and indigenous people. While the opportunities chapter discusses the prospects for Nusantara to become the capital city in the future and is expected to become the first green capital city that is maritime-oriented and wrapped in modernity.

Senior Advisor of the Centre for Innovation Policy and Governance (CIPG), Yanuar Nugroho, stated that until now there are still many non-academic information or discourse related to the National Innovation System (IKN). Therefore, the compilation of this book will fill the gap of academic discourse that can be used as a reference because it has scientific references.

”Whether this book is perfect or the best and most complete, obviously not. We still need more researchers, writers and academics who critically look at this capital city relocation project," said Yanuar as the editor at the launch of the book at the BRIN Main Auditorium, Jakarta, Tuesday (8/8/2023).

Yanuar acknowledges that the current condition of IKN, which is still in the development stage, poses the biggest challenge for the writers to conceptualize this megaproject of Indonesia. Despite this challenge, he appreciates the writers for continuously seeking information, data, and scientific references to be included in the book.

"The draft regulation indeed has many designs that look good to accommodate the community. However, in its implementation, currently there is no clear institution in IKN, including how the space for community participation will be in the future."

The Head of the Research Center for Domestic Government of BRIN, Mardyanto Wahyu Tryatmoko, stated that one of the debated issues concerning the form of governance in IKN has emerged. The democratic aspect in IKN is also frequently questioned by some parties following the concept of the city built on efficiency and effectiveness principles.

According to Mardyanto, there are indeed many good designs in the draft regulations to accommodate society. However, in its implementation, there is currently no clear institution in IKN, including how to provide space for community participation in the future.

"The direction of the government in IKN is still being questioned, especially in being able to gather local voices, considering there is no Regional Representatives Council (DPRD) nor elections. This is our focus in uncovering this issue," he said.

Five IKN principles

On the same occasion, Deputy for Green and Digital Transformation of IKN Authority, Mohammed Ali Berawi stated that there are five principles in the development of IKN, namely green or environmentally friendly, resilient, sustainable, inclusive, and smart. IKN has an area of ​​256,000 hectares and 65 percent is dedicated to tropical forests, 10 percent for green areas, and only 25 percent will be developed as urban areas.

Also read: Geological Hazards Still Threaten the Capital of the Archipelago

KOMPAS/SUCIPTO

The progress of the construction of the State Palace in the new capital city of Nusantara in North Penajam Paser, East Kalimantan, was recorded by the Ministry of Public Works and Housing on Wednesday (31/5/2023), indicating that the total development of the new capital has reached 29 percent.

According to Ali, the 75 percent of IKN which consists of forests and green areas is an effort to achieve a carbon-emission-free city by 2045. Moreover, the goal of a carbon-emission-free city is believed to be achievable sooner than the set target of 2045 if 25 percent of the urban areas in IKN can be controlled by all of its developmental programs.

Various scenarios and policies will be implemented to support the acceleration of emission reduction, such as the use of new renewable energy and electric vehicles. By 2030, most of the energy use in IKN will come from renewable energy with the operation of the North Kalimantan hydropower plant (PLTA).

Also read: Observe the Environmental and Social Impacts of Moving the National Capital City

Ali said that as an inclusive city, IKN can attract investment from large scale to micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs). Meanwhile, the IKN principle as a smart city will later be applied starting from aspects of government, transportation and mobility, livelihoods, energy resources, industry and human resources, to infrastructure.

"In the second and third phase, connectivity that connects several provincial capitals will be built. Then, in the next 20 to 30 years, many job opportunities will be created, so we need cities like Jakarta," he said.