Jokowi backs high-speed rail

(THE STAR ONLINE) The Indonesian government will go ahead with its plan to develop the country’s first high-speed railway despite lack of permits and opposition from lawmakers.

President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo issued a regulation on Friday containing a list of about 200 strategic projects including the development of the high-speed rail.

By including the rail project in the list, the Jakarta-Bandung high-speed rail will receive special backing and attention from the government.

In the regulation, the President also ordered ministers and local leaders to issue the required licenses to ensure the projects could be carried out according to plan.

The regulation, also mandates local legislative councils to support it and, if needed, to change their provincial spatial plans in order to ensure the projects are realised.

Jokowi has expressed a strong commitment for the high-speed rail project.

He recently wrote on his official Twitter account that the Jakarta-Bandung high-speed rail was “a part of our big plan to connect the main cities in Java with those outside Java”, adding that the train “is the future of our mass transportation”.

Speaking to reporters on Friday, the President stopped short of commenting on the controversies surrounding the rail project, but promised that the government would soon disclose all information related to the project.

“Comprehensive details will later be disclosed, including the process, the meetings and the costs ... everything,” Jokowi said, adding that the details would be issued next week.

The railway, spanning 142.3km, has been estimated to require US$5.5bil (RM22.78bil) of investment, with the majority of the funds to be provided by China Development Bank.

A joint venture called PT Kereta Cepat Indonesia China (KCIC), comprising four Indonesian state enterprises, including state railway firm PT Kereta Api Indonesia, and the China Railway Corporation, will manage the project.

It is targeted to begin construction early this year and be operational by 2019.

However, project development has been on hold due to various problems despite the ground-breaking ceremony last week, officiated by Jokowi himself. — The Jakarta Post/Asia News Network