Indonesia Passes Law to Move Capital to Borneo Jungle
2022-01-20
LRC
TXT
大字
小字
滚动
全页
1Indonesia's parliament on Tuesday passed a law to move the country's capital from Jakarta to an area deep within the jungle of Kalimantan on Borneo island.
2The country's leaders have been considering the move for several years.
3The new law provides a legal system for President Joko Widodo's $32-billion project.
4It explains the requirements for the development of the new capital, including financing and governance.
5The new capital will be "a symbol of the identity of the nation, as well as a new center of economic gravity," Planning Minister Suharso Monoarfa told parliament.
6The move will start from between 2022 and 2024, with roads and ports built first.
7Some projects will operate as public-private partnerships, the finance ministry said.
8Jakarta, a city of 10 million people, suffers from overcrowding, flooding and air pollution.
9Several former presidents have considered moving the capital, but none have advanced the idea until now.
10Widodo first announced his plan in 2019.
11The plan got delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
12The new city has a name that he chose: Nusantara.
13The word is a Javanese term for the Indonesian island group.
14There is not a set date for the finalization of the project.
15Jakarta will remain the capital until there is a presidential order to formally change it.
16The government said in a statement that the new capital will strengthen trade relationships and give Indonesia a better position in "world trade routes, investment flows and technological innovation."
17The government also said the new capital will be "low-carbon."
18It added that the city will support health and technology industries.
19Critics say the law was pushed through with little consideration for environmental concerns or public opinion.
20Nusantara will be led by a chief official who acts as a minister, a member of the law's special committee said on Monday.
21Jakarta's former governor, Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, also known as Ahok, is among those being considered for the position.
22I'm Susan Shand.
1Indonesia's parliament on Tuesday passed a law to move the country's capital from Jakarta to an area deep within the jungle of Kalimantan on Borneo island. 2The country's leaders have been considering the move for several years. 3The new law provides a legal system for President Joko Widodo's $32-billion project. It explains the requirements for the development of the new capital, including financing and governance. 4The new capital will be "a symbol of the identity of the nation, as well as a new center of economic gravity," Planning Minister Suharso Monoarfa told parliament. 5The move will start from between 2022 and 2024, with roads and ports built first. Some projects will operate as public-private partnerships, the finance ministry said. 6Jakarta, a city of 10 million people, suffers from overcrowding, flooding and air pollution. Several former presidents have considered moving the capital, but none have advanced the idea until now. 7Widodo first announced his plan in 2019. The plan got delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic. The new city has a name that he chose: Nusantara. The word is a Javanese term for the Indonesian island group. 8There is not a set date for the finalization of the project. Jakarta will remain the capital until there is a presidential order to formally change it. 9The government said in a statement that the new capital will strengthen trade relationships and give Indonesia a better position in "world trade routes, investment flows and technological innovation." 10The government also said the new capital will be "low-carbon." It added that the city will support health and technology industries. 11Critics say the law was pushed through with little consideration for environmental concerns or public opinion. 12Nusantara will be led by a chief official who acts as a minister, a member of the law's special committee said on Monday. Jakarta's former governor, Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, also known as Ahok, is among those being considered for the position. 13I'm Susan Shand. 14The Reuters News Agency reported this story. Susan Shand adapted it for Learning English. 15_________________________________________________ 16Words in This Story 17jungle - n. a tropical forest where plants and trees grow very thickly 18symbol - n. an action, object, event, etc., that expresses or represents a particular idea or quality 19route - n. a way of achieving or doing something 20innovation - n. a new idea, device, or method 21We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section, and visit our Facebook page.