President Joko Widodo claimedthe plan to move Indonesia's capital is still under research. He also said there were three provinces that are currently being vetted to be the new capital.
"There are three areas indeed, three provinces are included in the study," said Jokowi during the Land Rights Certificate Handover at the Balikpapan International Convention Center, Thursday.
The president, however, was unwilling to tell which provinces are being studied to minimize the price of land soaring high because of speculators.
"I won't tell. If I say East Kalimantan, for example Berau, then everyone will buy the land there [and] the price will go up," he said.
Jokowi also explained that the plan required attentive estimation.
"Moving the capital needs the calculation of sociopolitical factors, infrastructure and economy. Everything is estimated to know the cost. It's a lot of money. Indeed, many countries have moved [their capital] and separated between [the city for] business and administration so that everything can go well," he said.
Jokowi's statement was made as a response to East Kalimantan Governor Awang Faroek Ishak, who earlier during the same event proposed Balikpapan and Penajam Paser Utara regency as the city candidate for Indonesia's new capital.
Awang promoted the province, conveying the benefits of making the East Kalimantan as the capital of Indonesia, including, being on the inter-state transport route which leads to East Asia, having high tolerance people and adequate infrastructure.
"The East Kalimantan Governor has already discussed the possibility. I don't want to talk about it because it's still under study," said Jokowi.
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