EXPERTISE OF LOCALS SHOULD NOT BE DISCREDITED: PDI-P POLITICIAN
Following Mr Pandjaitan’s announcement that the government was mulling plans to hire foreign supervisors, Mr Nusyirwan Soejono from PDI-P said that the professionalism of Indonesians should not be discredited.
The politician said that Indonesians are capable of building and supervising the construction of major infrastructures such as roads and buildings.
“So, if you invite foreigners to supervise (the construction of the capital), it discredits the ability of professionals here,” said Mr Soejono, who is head of PDI-P’s industry, employment and social security unit.
He added that as Nusantara is set to become the country’s new capital, there would be security aspects concerning important buildings – such as the presidential palace – that are best left for Indonesians to handle.
The construction of Nusantara in Kalimantan is expected to be completed in several stages.
The first phase – consisting of the construction of the palace, a few ministries and basic infrastructures such as roads and housing – is slated to finish in 2024, which will be Mr Widodo’s final year in office.
The final stage of Nusantara’s construction is scheduled to be done in time for Indonesia’s centennial in 2045, with the new capital connected to surrounding cities such as Balikpapan and Samarinda.
On Jun 12, Mr Pandjaitan defended his stance, and said that the quality of workers in Indonesia is good, though they should be able to learn from “capable experts”.
“We should not be ashamed, we should not feel inferior. But if we are not capable, then learn.
“Maybe in six months, maybe a year … so that the quality of our buildings becomes far better,” he said.
On his end, President Widodo said that the use of foreign supervisors to speed up construction of the new capital had been suggested to him.
“Well, if it’s just one or two, who can direct, control and supervise so that the quality becomes good, why not?” said Mr Widodo last week.