Ambon (ANTARA News) - Maluku Governor Karel Albert Ralahalu will soon form a team to study the provincial capital relocation plan.

The team will be formed in the near future because Maluku provincial administration is planning to relocate the capital city of Ambon to Masohi on Seram island.

"In the near future we will form the team whose members are academicians from Pattimura University, Darusalam University, Maluku Indonesian Christian University, and Ambon State Islamic Institute," the governor said here on Thursday.

According to Ralahalu, Masohi is ideal to replace Ambon as provincial capital because it has an extensive area and is easily accessible from every district in the province.

Meanwhile, Nice Voice Maluku Institute Director Agus Siahaya said here on Tuesday that the relocation of the provincial capital from Ambon to Masohi was a step forward and the best possible solution to the problem of overcrowding in Ambon city.

According to Agus, the relocation of the provincial capital was inevitable because the carrying capacity of Ambon city is no longer proportional to the ever increasing population growth and limited employment.

"In the next five years the population increase cannot be controlled any longer, and with the present condition of Ambon city I think the relocation of the provincial capital is very urgent and should be done immediately," Agus Siahaya said.

He was of the opinion that the relocation would also have a positive impact on the process of equitable development in "The Province of One Thousand Islands."

"With its extensive area, Masohi is ideal to replace Ambon as capital of Maluku province," Diahaya said, adding that Ambon could be turned into an economic center and city of education in the province.

The discourse of turning Masohi as provincial capital was first voiced by Indonesian founding father Soekarno when declaring it as the capital of Central Maluku district back in 1957.
(Uu.O001/H-NG)

Editor: Priyambodo RH
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