Bahlil strongly criticized presidential and vice presidential candidates rejected IKN
Minister of Investment/Head of the Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM) Bahlil Lahadalia conveyed strong sarcasm towards presidential candidates who rejected the establishment of an Indonesian Capital City (IKN) in Kalimantan.
There are presidential candidates who have not yet taken office and are already bragging about changing policies, even repealing Law Number 3 of 2022 concerning the National Capital. The presidential candidate, said Bahlil, believes that moving the capital is not for equality, and will even create new inequalities.
"According to his version, the capital city of Nusantara in Kalimantan is not intended to achieve equality. I want to convey that this is a misguided idea," said Bahlil.
Bahlil believes IKN development is a form of equalizing economic growth in Indonesia. Therefore, said Bahlil, when there is a presidential candidate who does not agree with moving the capital from Jakarta to Kalimantan, the presidential candidate does not want Kalimantan, and in general the eastern region of Indonesia to be more developed than it is now.
Bahlil was sarcastic about the statement of vice presidential candidate number 1, Muhaimin Iskandar, who stated that he preferred to live in Jakarta rather than moving to IKN, which, according to him, is not yet suitable for living. Bahlil reminded PKB is the leading party supporting the formation of IKN through the enactment of Law Number 3 of 2022 concerning the National Capital.
Bahlil said the choice of having the capital remain in Jakarta and refusing to move to Kalimantan because it was considered still a forest was a wrong concept. This thinking is the concept of thinking of the DKI governor candidates and is not suitable to be president or vice president.