JAKARTA: Former head of Nusantara Capital City (IKN), Bambang Susantono (pic), who resigned from his job earlier this week, on Wednesday (June 10) issued a statement pledging that he would continue to contribute to realising President Joko 'Jokowi' Widodo's vision of a new, green and sustainable capital.
Bambang, a former Asian Development Bank (ADB) official, said in a statement posted on Instagram that everyone should support the construction of the new capital as it would symbolise Indonesia's vision for a new civilisation that the country could realise in the year 2045.
"The development of IKN as a sustainable forest city should not only be the hope for Indonesia but also a hope for the world as a model for future cities," Bambang said.
The President has replaced Bambang with Basuki Hadimuljono, the current public works and housing minister, in a surprise shake-up just weeks before the controversial US$32 billion project officially opens in Kalimantan.
Bambang's deputy, Dhony Rahajoe, was replaced by a deputy agrarian minister.
Indonesia's capital city will formally move in August from traffic-clogged and sinking Jakarta to the planned city of Nusantara.
The legacy project by the outgoing President has been hampered by a lack of foreign investment, land ownership issues and delays.
In his statement, Bambang also issued an apology for any mistakes made during his term.
"Allow me to apologise for any mistakes and shortcomings in my duties," Bambang said. - The Jakarta Post/ANN
