Indonesian parliament officially designates former capital Jakarta as special region

JAKARTA -- The Indonesian parliament passed a bill into law on Tuesday, officially designating Jakarta as the country's special region following its removal as the capital city.

The bill was approved during a plenary session at the parliament building in Jakarta, led by Deputy Speaker Adies Kadir.

"The status of Jakarta is no longer that of a capital city. It is now a special region, as we have moved the capital to Nusantara," Kadir said after the meeting.

Indonesia has officially relocated its capital from Jakarta, on the island of Java, to Nusantara, situated in North Penajam Paser regency, East Kalimantan Province. The new capital is currently under construction, with the relocation of civil servants scheduled to begin in early 2025.

Former President Joko Widodo previously explained that the move was necessitated by Jakarta's overcrowding and chronic congestion.

Indonesian Home Minister Muhammad Tito Karnavian said that Jakarta would undergo a transition from its role as the capital to its new status as a special region. "Jakarta will remain the center of economic and cultural activity. It is expected to retain its strategic appeal and prominence in national activities, even though it is no longer the capital," he said.