Capital city outside Java

Capital city outside Java

From Neraca

In order to solve lots of crucial problems facing the capital city, I would like to suggest that the capital of the republic be moved outside Java. We should build a specific city, that is far from the tumult of business activities.

The new site for the capital city could be in Kalimantan, Sulawesi, or Irian Jaya because these places are still sparsely populated. The new capital should function only as the center of the government of the republic.

The present capital is already too crowded. We should be ashamed of this condition and try to find a better place. The United States did it in the past. They moved their capital from Philadelphia to a special district, which is now known as Washington D.C.

True, it would need a tremendous amount of funds to build a new capital. But the private sector can be involved in the project. Jakarta will not necessarily lose its significance. It will still retain its glamor and identity. It can be used as a place for international conferences, like New York. Also the problem of urbanization, which continues to be a headache to the Jakarta Administration, will be solved.

MUHAMMAD ADENAN

Medan, North Sumatra