Indonesia’s ambitious new capital faces unwelcome visitors: rats

Yahoo! News - Apr 7th, 2025
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During the Eid al-Fitr holiday, thousands of tourists flocked to Nusantara, Indonesia's future capital city under construction on Borneo island, only to be met by an unexpected sight: rats. Videos of rodents scurrying among the crowds quickly circulated on social media, prompting the Nusantara Capital Authority to take swift action. Hundreds of rat traps were deployed, and additional sanitation measures were promised to tackle the pest issue threatening the city's reputation as a high-tech and green urban hub. Despite extensive development efforts, the presence of rats and litter, particularly plastic waste, marred the image of this ambitious $32 billion project intended to replace Jakarta as the nation's capital.

The Nusantara project, launched in 2022, aims to create a sustainable city designed to house 1.9 million residents, addressing Jakarta's challenges of congestion and subsidence. However, the rat infestation has become a stark reminder of the hurdles faced in transforming a forested and hilly area into a cutting-edge metropolis. Authorities, acknowledging the old rat nests due to the region's natural habitat, are working diligently to align the city's development with its climate-conscious goals. As Nusantara progresses, managing such environmental challenges will be crucial for realizing its vision of a smart and sustainable urban environment.

Story submitted by Fairstory

RATING

6.0
Moderately Fair
Read with skepticism

The article provides a generally accurate and timely account of the challenges facing Indonesia's new capital, Nusantara, with a focus on the rodent infestation and litter issues. It effectively captures the contrast between the city's ambitious vision and its current realities, making it relevant to ongoing discussions about urban development and sustainability.

However, the article's credibility is somewhat affected by a lack of explicit source attribution and transparency, which could be improved by incorporating more authoritative sources and providing clear citations. While the article is well-written and engaging, it could benefit from a more balanced presentation of perspectives, including those of local residents and environmental experts.

Overall, the article effectively raises important issues and contributes to public awareness and discourse, but it could enhance its impact and engagement by providing more in-depth analysis and diverse viewpoints.

RATING DETAILS

7
Accuracy

The story accurately describes the location of Indonesia's new capital, Nusantara, on Borneo Island and the purpose of relocating from Jakarta. The claim about the rodent infestation is supported by reports of videos spreading on social media, and the response by the Nusantara Capital Authority to deploy rat traps is consistent with official actions.

However, the story does not provide specific sources or data to verify the number of visitors or the extent of the litter problem. The project's budget and timeline are mentioned, but these figures require confirmation from official sources. The article's accuracy would benefit from more explicit citations or references to official statements and data.

Overall, the story presents a generally accurate depiction of the situation but lacks detailed source attribution for some claims, which affects its verifiability.

6
Balance

The article primarily focuses on the challenges facing Nusantara, such as the rodent infestation and litter, which could undermine its image as a 'smart and sustainable' city. This focus may skew the reader's perception by emphasizing negative aspects without equally highlighting ongoing efforts to address these issues or positive developments.

While the article mentions the deployment of rat traps and sanitation measures, it does not explore the perspectives of local residents, tourists, or environmental experts who might provide a broader view of the situation. Including a wider range of viewpoints would enhance the article's balance.

The article could improve by presenting more diverse perspectives, including those of government officials, environmentalists, and local communities, to provide a more comprehensive understanding of the situation.

8
Clarity

The article is generally clear and well-structured, presenting information in a logical sequence that makes it easy for readers to follow. It uses straightforward language and provides a coherent narrative about the challenges facing Nusantara.

The article effectively highlights the contrast between the city's futuristic ambitions and the current issues it faces, such as the rodent infestation and litter. This clarity helps readers understand the potential impact of these challenges on the city's image and development.

Overall, the article's clarity is a strong point, as it communicates complex issues in an accessible manner without overwhelming the reader with jargon or unnecessary details.

5
Source quality

The article lacks explicit attribution to specific sources, which affects its credibility. While it mentions actions by the Nusantara Capital Authority, it does not directly quote any official statements or provide links to official reports or data.

The absence of named sources or references to official documents makes it difficult to assess the reliability of the information presented. Including statements from government officials, environmental experts, or local stakeholders would enhance the article's source quality.

To improve source quality, the article should incorporate more authoritative sources and provide clear attribution to enhance the credibility and reliability of its claims.

4
Transparency

The article lacks transparency in terms of its sources and the basis for its claims. It does not disclose the methodology used to gather information or the sources from which it derives its data.

Without explicit references to official reports, statements, or interviews, readers are left without a clear understanding of how the information was obtained or verified. This lack of transparency can lead to questions about the article's impartiality and the accuracy of its claims.

Improving transparency would involve providing clear citations, explaining the methodology used to gather information, and disclosing any potential conflicts of interest that might affect the article's objectivity.

Sources

  1. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iN8y7Am1E5s
  2. https://www.instagram.com/reel/DIIm-mNPyw2/