Menko Polhukam Claims IKN is Ready for RI Anniversary Ceremony

REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, NUSANTARA — President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) is reportedly ready to preside over the independence commemoration ceremony of the Republic of Indonesia in the capital of the archipelago. The State Palace and its grounds are said to have been prepared as the venue for the ceremony.

“The President will act as an inspector of ceremonies in the seconds of proclamation and flag lowering in the afternoon of August 17,” said Minister of State for Polhukam Hadi Tjahjanto during the event “Dialogue with Menko Polhukam, Menkominfo, Editor-in-Chief of the National Media” at IKN on Wednesday (7/8/2024).

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According to him, the new State Palace and its grounds are ready to be used as a ceremony site. Minister of State Polhukam also said that access to IKN is now ready. “Balikpapan via Samarinda access to IKN takes 2.5 hours. Later Balikpapan-Pulobalang-IKN can be reached in 1.5 hours.

He also claimed that the office building of the state civil apparatus (ASN) and other facilities had undergone significant development progress. He stressed that the holding of the independence ceremony at IKN will be an important symbol of the capital's move.

“The RI Anniversary Ceremony at IKN is a milestone and a big leap for the new state capital. The ceremony and (the presence of) the president are symbols of the seriousness of the government building and supporting the community,” he said.

Chairman of the IKN Development Task Force of the Ministry of PUPR Danis Sumadilaga said that the total area of OKN is 252 thousand square meters of which 62 thousand square meters are land. “It's three times the size of Singapore,” he said.

According to him, a number of problems in IKN have begun to be solved gradually. The problem of water sources, for example, is solved by damming dams, water installations, and water reservoirs.

At present, according to him, house building has been prepared for 36 ministers. In addition, there are 16 ministry buildings and four coordinating ministries. While da 47 residential tower for ASN. “For August 17 about 12 towers could be used,” he said. One tower will consist of 12 floors of which one floor will consist of five apartment units.

According to him, the capital of the country is worth moving because of the density of population and economy in Jakarta. “The state of the water, the land, the urbanization, the degradation of the environment, these are the main reasons for moving,” he said.