Jakarta, CNN Indonesia —
Vice Chairman DPR RI Rachmat Gobel criticized the government’s move to allocate funds in the State Budget (APBN) for projects Jakarta-Bandung high-speed train.
According to Gobel, the APBN should be focused on economic recovery and the development of the new National Capital (IKN).
It is known, this effort has been officially issued through Presidential Regulation (Perpres) Number 93 of 2021 concerning Amendments to Presidential Regulation Number 107 of 2015 concerning Acceleration of Implementation of Fast Train Infrastructure and Facilities between Jakarta and Bandung.
“About the fast train, let us leave it to the investors. This is in accordance with the initial principled idea business to business,” said Rachmat in a written statement to reporters, Saturday (30/10).
Initially, the government agreed that the construction of the high-speed train would not consume the state budget because it adhered to the scheme business to business. However, until now the development budget continues to swell.
“What is certain is that up to now it has swollen twice. This condition is contrary to the original three promises and is already more expensive than the Japanese proposal. In terms of quality, Japan is definitely much better,” he said.
Therefore, he asked the government to focus on prioritizing the use of the current budget, namely for handling Covid-19, economic recovery and the construction of the new nation’s capital.
The government, he said, must be consistent with the development scheme that has been decided from the start. The cost increase, according to Gobel, should be handed over to the Indonesian-China Fast Train (KCIC) consortium company.
For information, this BUMN consortium is named PT Pilar Sinergi BUMN Indonesia (PSBI). The consortium consists of PT Wijaya Karya (Persero) Tbk, PT Kereta Api Indonesia (Persero), PT Jasa Marga (Persero) Tbk, and PT Perkebunan Nusantara VIII (Persero) or PTPN VIII.
The consortium has a 60 percent stake in the operator of the Jakarta-Bandung high-speed rail project, PT Kereta Cepat Indonesia China (KCIC). Then, 40 percent of KCIC’s shares are held by Beijing Yawan HSR Co.Ltd.
“So if there is a cost overrun, it will be handed over to these companies. And if there are companies that are unable to deposit additional fees, their shares will be deluded automatically. This is a normal business process. This is called business to business. Don’t force yourself to ask for funds from the state budget,” he said.
He also asked KCIC to act transparently and honestly in working on the project.
Previously, investment needs for the Jakarta-Bandung high-speed rail project swelled from US$ 6.07 billion or around Rp. 86.67 trillion (exchange rate of Rp. 14,280 per US dollar) to US$ 8 billion or equivalent to Rp. 114.24 trillion. This estimate is slightly down from the initial estimate of US$8.6 billion or Rp122.8 trillion.
The estimated increase in project costs is not as high as before because the company is implementing efficiencies, such as cutting costs, building stations, and others.
KAI’s Director of Finance & Risk Management Salusra Wijaya said the need for project investment will increase because Indonesia has not deposited an initial capital of Rp. 4.3 trillion.
In fact, the deposit should have been made since December 2020. That amount does not include the estimated responsibility of the sponsor in financing the cost overruns (cost overrun) of Rp4.1 trillion.
(mjo / mik)
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