The Government Must Guarantee the Skills of the Jabodetabekjur Agglomeration Council

The government is asked to guarantee that the Agglomeration Council is better than the Jabodetabekjur Development Cooperation Agency.

The following article was translated using both Microsoft Azure Open AI and Google Translation AI. The original article can be found in Pemerintah Harus Jamin Kecakapan Dewan Aglomerasi Jabodetabekjur

KOMPAS/PRIYOMBODO (PRI)

Employees cross the pedestrian bridge on Jenderal Sudirman Street, Jakarta, during their lunch break on Tuesday (21/11/2023).

JAKARTA, KOMPAS — The draft Law on the Special Region of Jakarta regarding the plan to form the city agglomeration Jabodetabekjur has sparked controversy. The government is also asked to guarantee that the Agglomeration Council will be better than the Jabodetabekjur Development Cooperation Agency or BKSP.

Currently, the government and the House of Representatives are speeding up discussions on the DKJ Bill. In the draft DKJ Bill Article 51 Paragraph (2) it is stated that the Agglomeration Area covers at least the areas of the Special Region Provinces of Jakarta, Bogor Regency, Tangerang Regency, Bekasi Regency, Cianjur Regency, Bogor City, Depok City, Tangerang City, South Tangerang City and Bekasi City .

In the draft DKJ bill, the Council of Agglomeration Regions is also discussed, which is responsible for coordinating the spatial planning of national strategic areas in Agglomeration Regions and the Master Plan for Agglomeration Region Development. It is also mentioned that the Council of Agglomeration Regions will be led by the Vice President.

This Bill on Regional Development received various criticisms from various parties. Urban observer from Trisakti University, Nirwono Yoga, stated that agglomeration should not be used in the context of urban areas. He believes that Jakarta is more appropriate as a metropolitan area.

According to him, the government should also evaluate BKSPJabodetabekjur which is not yet optimal before developing the Agglomeration Area Council.

"The existence of the Agglomerated Region Council actually has the potential to repeat the ineffectiveness of the Jabodetabekjur Regional Spatial Planning Board that was previously in place," he said on Monday (18/3/2024).

KOMPAS/PRIYOMBODO (PRI)

Employees walk along the pedestrian area on Jenderal Sudirman Street in Jakarta during their lunch break on Tuesday (21/11/2023).

During the process, Nirwono assessed that BKSP does not have authority and budget to execute integrated programs that are intended to be implemented, thus it is not useful to integrate Jakarta and satellite cities.

Nirwono cautioned that if the Aglomeration Council, if it is indeed formed, should learn from the BKSP.

"The Aglomeration Council must have a new concept with effective strategies to be able to integrate Jakarta and its surrounding regions in West Java Province (Depok, Bogor, Bekasi, and Cianjur) and Banten Province (Tangerang)," he said.

Nirwono urges the government to ensure that the Regional Agglomeration Council can be improved and capable of addressing issues in Jakarta and its surrounding areas, such as floods, traffic congestion, air pollution, mass transportation, affordable housing, and spatial planning.

Nirwono also requested that the government and DPR listen to all parties, such as regional governments, DPRD, universities, and urban experts who can help measure the impact of the draft law on Jakarta and its surrounding residents.

Also read: Jakarta Special Region Bill Discussed, Government Confirms Governor Remains Directly Elected

KOMPAS/PRIYOMBODO (PRI)

Employees walk along the pedestrian pathway on Jenderal Sudirman Street, Jakarta, during their lunch break on Tuesday (21/11/2023).

Public Policy Observer from Trisakti University, Trubus Rahadiansyah, also disagrees if Jakarta joins its supporting areas to become an agglomeration area. He agrees more with the concept of a metropolitan area proposed by former Governor of Jakarta, Sutiyoso.

"Should Jakarta wait for the development of its supporting city? Jakarta has progressed faster than the agglomerate area," he said.

Meanwhile, according to the Executive Director of Walhi DKI Jakarta, Suci Fitriah Tanjun, the Draft Law on Capital City Governance is filled with nepotism. Whoever leads Indonesia will have power over Jakarta and the surrounding areas in the agglomeration. This is very dangerous for democracy and society.

The public was not given the chance to choose who they believe should lead Jakarta and the surrounding area. In addition, the DKJ Bill is seen as disregarding public participation.

"In the process of its formulation, the community was not significantly involved. In other words, the draft DKJ law only considers the community as a development object that is deemed to have no interest," he said.

KOMPAS/ADRYAN YOGA PARAMADWYA

Fireworks lit up the sky on New Year's Eve in the Monas area of Jakarta on Monday (1/1/2024).

Agreed

Previously, the government and DPR agreed on the expansion of the Jakarta agglomeration area. Later on, the Jakarta buffer zone will include Bogor, Depok, Tangerang, Bekasi, and Cianjur (Jabodetabekjur).

Furthermore, the Jabodetabekjur Agglomeration Council will also be established. Its chairman and members will be appointed directly by the president.

The agreement was reached during a meeting of the Jakarta Special Region Regional Regulation Drafting Committee (RUU DKJ) working group in the meeting room of the Legislative Body of the DPR, Parliament Complex, Senayan, Jakarta, on Thursday (14/3/2024).

During the meeting, Minister of Home Affairs Tito Karnavian ensured that Jakarta will be expanded into a metropolitan city. This follows the city's status change after it is no longer the capital.

As for agglomerated cities, they are cities whose construction will be followed by their satellite cities. Tito revealed that this option for agglomerated cities was chosen because there is no need to change its administrative direction to become a megalopolitan or metropolitan city.

KOMPAS/PRIYOMBODO (PRI)

There was heavy traffic on Jenderal Sudirman Road in Jakarta during the midday break on Tuesday (21/11/2023).

In the draft of the DKJ Bill, it has been mentioned that the Agglomeration Council will be led by the Vice President. Their task is to coordinate the implementation of national strategic area spatial planning in the Agglomeration Area and the Master Plan of Agglomeration Area Development.

Although it will be led by the vice president, Tito stated that it does not imply that the development policies will be taken over from the regional government. The implementation of the policies will still be carried out by each local government in the areas included in the agglomeration.

According to Tito, the reason why the Cianjur region is included in the expansion of the Jabodetabekjur metropolitan area is related to flood management in Jakarta and its surrounding areas. Geographically, Jakarta is crossed by 13 rivers, including Ciliwung, which originates from the border of Bogor and Cianjur regencies and flows towards the north coast of Jakarta.

Also read: About the Jabodetabekjur Agglomeration Council

Cianjur and Bogor serve as water catchment areas located on highlands. This is crucial, especially when there is a potential for flooding from the highland areas.

Tito emphasized the importance of maintaining the green areas of Cianjur and Bogor as non-residential areas. This step is expected to reduce pressure on low-lying areas, such as Jakarta and Depok, during heavy rain.

KOMPAS/AGUS SUSANTO

The Jabodetabek train passed through Tanah Abang, Central Jakarta, on Tuesday, May 2, 2023.

"This highland area needs to preserve its environment and absorptive capacity. Therefore, green space planning must be made and it must not be turned into settlements," he said.

However, Tito emphasized that the agglomeration does not unify government areas or government administration, but only a synchronization of programs that will later be handed over to the president to form its structural mechanism.

In the draft of the DKJ Bill, it has been mentioned that the Agglomeration Council will be led by the Vice President. Their task is to coordinate the implementation of national strategic area spatial planning in the Agglomeration Area and the Master Plan of Agglomeration Area Development.

The formation of the Agglomeration Council was carried out while waiting for the decision from President Jokowi and the finalization of the DKJ Law being approved.

The Acting Governor of Jakarta, Heru Budi Hartono, reiterated that the DKJ Bill is still being discussed in the DPR.

"We'll just have to wait until the revocation of the Capital City's status is confirmed, and surely the best will be given to Jakarta," said Heru on Monday (18/3/2024).