Organizer: ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute

Type/Location: Virtual

Description:

Jakarta is entering a critical moment in its urban history. With the passing of the Special Region of Jakarta (DKJ) law and the planned relocation of Indonesia’s administrative capital to Nusantara, the city is being redefined from being the political centre of the country into a metropolitan region expected to function as a global economic hub. This seminar examines how that transition is reshaping Jakarta’s governance, planning priorities, and everyday urban experience.

The discussion traces recent institutional changes, including the creation of the Jakarta Agglomeration Council, and assesses the first year of governance under a new governor and administration. It situates these developments within a longer view of how successive governors have sought to remake Jakarta through infrastructure projects, planning narratives, and legacy-building, often revealing a gap between ambitious visions and uneven outcomes on the ground. As the city approaches its 500th anniversary, the seminar reflects on what it means for Jakarta to move beyond its capital city identity.

About the Speakers:

Irna Nurlina Masron received her PhD in Geography from Birkbeck College, University of London in 2025. She is a Fellow of the Regional Social and Cultural Studies and the Indonesia Studies Programmes at the ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute. Her research focuses on comparative politics, urban housing and heritage in Southeast Asian cities such as Jakarta and Singapore.

Siwage Dharma Negara is a senior fellow at ISEAS–Yusof Ishak Institute. He is Co-Coordinator for the Indonesia Studies Programme and Coordinator for the Singapore APEC Study Centre at the institute. His research interests include macroeconomic and development issues, special economic zones, and industrial and trade policies with a special focus on Indonesia. He holds a PhD in Economics from the University of Melbourne, Australia.

About the Discussant:

Rita Padawangi is Associate Professor at the College of Interdisciplinary and Experiential Learning, Singapore University of Social Sciences. A sociologist by training, her research interests are social movements, environmental justice, and community engagement in cities. She is the Coordinator of the Southeast Asia Neighbourhoods Network (SEANNET).

Registration:

To attend the event virtually, please register here.