Blog

[JAKARTA] Pramono Anung – the man poised to become Jakarta’s next governor – has pledged to tackle Jakarta’s most urgent challenges, including the sinking of coastal areas, as part of his 100-day action plan after he takes office.

The former Cabinet secretary’s vow comes after he was declared the frontrunner in the Jakarta gubernatorial race held on Wednesday (Nov 27), based on quick-count results from independent survey agencies.

“My first 100 days will focus on addressing the issues currently facing Jakarta. However, for official results, we must wait for the final count from the General Elections Commission,” he said in a news conference.

The election, involving about 8.2 million voters, holds historic significance as it may mark the city’s final gubernatorial race as Indonesia’s capital, in light of the plans underway to move the capital to Nusantara.

The race is seen as a crucial barometer for the current political landscape of South-east Asia’s largest economy, noted analysts.

Anung, 61, backed by the opposition Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP), is locked in a tight race with former West Java governor Ridwan Kamil, who has the support of President Prabowo Subianto’s ruling coalition – led by Gerindra and Golkar.

Data from four independent pollsters showed that Anung had secured about 50 per cent of the valid votes, based on ballots counted from a sample of polling stations. Kamil trails with 39 per cent of the votes.

As on Thursday, all of the sample votes had been tallied. These quick counts from reputable pollsters have consistently proven reliable and provided a near-accurate snapshot of election results in previous races.

Meanwhile, the official quick count conducted by the General Election Commission moved more slowly. The extensive counting process is expected to take weeks, with final results set to be announced by Dec 16.

To win the Jakarta gubernatorial election, a candidate must secure more than half the vote. If no candidate reaches this threshold, a run-off election will be held to determine the winner.

Key battleground

The battle for votes in Jakarta has been seen as a high-stakes political showdown and a crucial stepping stone for politicians.

The governorship has frequently served as a springboard to the presidency, with figures like former president Joko Widodo using the role to propel themselves to the nation’s highest office.

Jannus Siahaan, a political sociologist from Padjadjaran University, said that Anung’s victory would be highly significant for PDIP in rebuilding the party’s trust, following its defeat in the presidential election in February.

Siahaan believes that the rise of a stronger opposition could challenge Prabowo’s administration in implementing future programmes, as it would likely increase resistance to key government policies.

For Prabowo, who has openly endorsed Kamil, a victory for his coalition in Jakarta would be a catalyst for his ambitious programmes, such as providing free nutritious meals and achieving 8 per cent economic growth.

With plans to move the nation’s administrative centre to Nusantara, Jakarta is expected to remain Indonesia’s economic hub, despite the legalities of the move still being in limbo from awaiting Prabowo’s signature on the presidential decree.

But he has committed to advancing the project, and the multibillion-dollar infrastructure development in Nusantara is already underway, with no clear timeline for the official relocation of Indonesia’s administrative centre.

Nirwono Yoga, a specialist in urban planning from Jakarta-based Trisakti University, said that until Nusantara is fully prepared to assume its role, Jakarta will retain its status as the nation’s capital.

The Jakarta governor’s position, consequently, remains crucial, he added.

“It is almost certain that Nusantara will not be ready to serve as the capital within the next five years. As a result, Jakarta is expected to continue functioning as the nation’s capital, making the policies implemented by the Jakarta governor highly significant in a political context,” he said.

Race to combat city’s growing problems

With a population of 12 million, Jakarta is the economic heart of Indonesia. The city drives roughly 17 per cent of the country’s economy.

It is grappling with rising sea levels and persistent environmental challenges, which triggered the government’s plan to move the country’s capital to Kalimantan.

The candidates vying for governor seat have proposed solutions to tackle the city’s pressing issues.

Kamil has pledged to transform Jakarta into a global city that welcomes tourists, while fostering a business-friendly environment for investors to establish and grow their ventures.

With a background in architecture and a degree from the US, he has pledged to revitalise Jakarta’s river routes, offering an alternative solution to the city’s persistent traffic congestion.

Anung, despite lacking prior experience in regional leadership, is eager to drive investment growth in Jakarta by launching the Jakarta Fund – an investment institution aimed at attracting investors to finance the city’s development.

He has also outlined a plan to tackle economic inequality by creating a million job opportunities for residents. He has also pledged to expand green spaces across the city to combat its air pollution problems.