VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

The Indonesian government has several reasons to move the national capital to East Kalimantan. One of them is to improve the efficiency of administrative functions in Indonesia. This was stated by Dr. Riza Yosia Sunindijo, Associate Professor and Director of Postgraduate Research at the Faculty of Built Environment at the University of New South Wales, Australia, in a special interview on the Sydney Educational Radio community radio in Sydney on Thursday (02/01/2020). According to him, 40 percent of Jakarta city area is below sea level causing frequent flooding.

"So currently about 40 percent of the city is actually below the sea level causing frequent flooding. And even yesterday (Wednesday-ed) there was a massive flooding in Jakarta. So therefore moving the capital city to a new planned city, there is the potential to improve the efficiency of the administrative function of the country,” said  Dr. Riza Yosia Sunindijo.

Dr. Riza Yosia Sunindijo added that up until now the Indonesian people were of the opinion that the development carried out by the government had so far been more centered on the island of Java, so moving the Indonesian capital to East Kalimantan was expected to change this perception. In addition, the relocation of the national capital is expected to increase development in other regions in Indonesia. (VOI / STEPHEN / AHM)