Concerns Raised Over Whoosh High-Speed Railway's 80-Year Loan Repayment

Concerns are mounting over the long-term debt repayment plan for Indonesia's Whoosh high-speed railway project. Recently, a senior official from the Ministry of Transportation reportedly made a lighthearted remark about the possibility of the railway's loan repayment period extending to 80 years. In response to this statement, prominent legal expert Jimly Asshiddiqie publicly questioned its appropriateness and criticized it. Asshiddiqie pointed out that an 80-year repayment period could impose an excessive burden on future generations, emphasizing the need for more careful consideration of the project's sustainability and its impact on the national economy. While the high-speed railway project is seen as a significant step in Indonesia's infrastructure development, its enormous construction and maintenance costs, along with long-term debt repayment as highlighted in this instance, directly relate to the tax burden on the public. Particularly, given the persistent economic disparities between regions in Indonesia, and the view that benefits might be limited for residents outside the Greater Jakarta area, greater transparency and accountability are demanded in the financial planning of such large-scale projects. This discussion has become a catalyst for national interest in the approach to large-scale infrastructure investment in Indonesia and its financial sustainability.