Sleepless in Nusantara: An uneasy first night in Indonesia’s new capital

Outgoing Indonesian President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo on Monday said he spent a restless first night at the presidential palace in Nusantara, the nation’s new capital still under construction. 

In 2019, Jokowi announced plans to establish the capital, highlighting the issues of overcrowding and pollution in Jakarta. 

“To be honest, I didn’t sleep well,” Jokowi admitted with a laugh to reporters. “Perhaps it’s just because it’s the first time.”

Still, Jokowi expressed overall satisfaction with the progress of the capital’s development, as thousands are working to complete the project. He also said that the construction of Nusantara was a long-term project expected to take 10 to 20 years.

“This is not a job of just one or two years,” he said. “Everything is still a work in progress.”

Even as Jokowi’s discomfort may have been a fleeting reaction to new surroundings, it pales in comparison to the anxieties of some locals who fear losing their homes and livelihoods because of the capital relocation project.

The president invited celebrities and internet influencers to Nusantara who praised the new capital as peaceful and green, sparking a wave of criticism online.

“He failed to bring investors to IKN but instead brought influencers there to have fun, enjoying dinner and squandering people’s tax money,” X user Nicho Silalahi said using an acronym for Ibu Kota Nusantara, the name for the capital project.

After nearly a decade in office, Jokowi will leave the presidency in October at the end of his second term. 

Some analysts said his decision to start official duties from the new capital might be a move to hype his legacy project before he leaves office.

The U.S. $32 billion project has been marred by delays, land acquisition obstacles and a poor investment profile, among other issues.

Nusantara, slated for completion in 2045, is planned to accommodate about 1.9 million residents in an area of about 1,000 square miles. 

Jokowi has delayed signing a presidential decree to relocate the capital, hinting that it could be his successor Prabowo Subianto’s task. 

Prabowo, elected president in February, has vowed to continue the project but has not shown as much interest in accelerating its completion because of financial demands, observers said.

Construction

The dusty roads leading to Nusantara are busy with trucks hauling building materials – and even as the city is beginning to take shape, many buildings remain unfinished.

The new presidential palace features two colossal Garuda wings, a national emblem, flanking its facade. The final piece of the wings, the 4,650th section, was installed recently, marking a milestone in the construction of the palace.

Designed by renowned Indonesian sculptor Nyoman Nuarta, the wings weigh 1,398.3 tons and reach a height of 77 meters (253 feet), extending 177 meters wide.

Near the presidential palace, government offices are under construction, forming the core of the administrative district. 

Beyond the government complex, other essential infrastructure projects are underway as well. 

The Memorial Park, a tribute to the nation’s history, is nearing completion, with two large protective wings already in place. Statues of the country’s founding fathers, Soekarno and Muhammad Hatta, are expected to be finished before Aug. 17, Indonesia’s Independence Day. 

Land clearing is underway for a religious complex that will house places of worship to foster inclusivity and diversity within the new capital, officials said. The national mosque is already under construction.

Additionally, the construction of the airport is progressing – the runway and control tower are completed. The access road to the airport is under construction and is expected to be finished in August. 

Nusantara is where the main Independence Day ceremony is to be held. In a departure from tradition, the national event is to be held there as well as in Jakarta. 

Mixed feelings

While Nusantara has brought economic benefits to the region, with an influx of workers from other parts of Indonesia creating new business opportunities, locals are concerned about land grabs, the rising cost of living and environmental issues.

Jubaidah, 37, a mother of five from the village of Pemaluan, voiced a sentiment shared by many in her community. 

“We haven’t received any clear information about the compensation for our land. But from what I’ve heard, it won’t be enough to buy new land in Sepaku, where prices have already soared,” she told BenarNews.

Jubaidah’s 2.5-acre plot, primarily used for palm oil cultivation, is slated for acquisition to make way for Nusantara. 

Even though the government has promised compensation for crops and plants, the amount offered is insufficient to purchase new land in the area, where prices have skyrocketed due to the project, she said.

“Some have already accepted compensation and relocated, while others are determined to fight for their land and way of life.”

Pandi, a neighborhood chief in Sepaku village who uses one name, shared similar concerns about the project’s impact on the community. 

“For me, it’s not progress. The progress is only for certain groups, like the government people,” he told BenarNews at his modest wooden house. 

“The people actually feel disadvantaged by this development,” he said. 

He said the construction of a dam in the middle of residential areas had led to changes in the river’s course and a decrease in local livelihoods. 

“We used to farm, but with the regulations against clearing land, it’s become harder. The dam has also blocked water for rice fields, so people are no longer able to plant rice,” Pandi said.

When asked about Jokowi’s visit to Nusantara, Pandi responded, “I’m indifferent. The government’s policies never favor the people.”

A spokesperson for the Nusantara capital authority declined to respond to a BenarNews request for comment. 

Last month, Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono, agrarian affairs and spatial planning minister, said the Nusantara capital authority had prepared plans to address the issue, including relocation, social impact management and financial compensation.

Despite the challenges, Jubaidah, who also goes by one name, said she was hopeful that she could find a way to stay on her land and continue her traditional way of life. 

Jubaidah has found a silver lining amidst the project – she receives a monthly payment of 9 million rupiah (U.S. $552) from a contractor for renting out a part of her home to construction workers.

“If we could just keep our land, we could plant vegetables and anything we want,” she said. “But now, even finding banana leaves for cooking is difficult.”