Jakarta Governor Pramono targets over 1,000 ‘rusunawa' units by next year to ease housing backlog
The initiative was announced by Jakarta Governor Pramono Anung last week during the launch of Rusunawa Jagakarsa in South Jakarta, targeting low-income residents earning between Rp 2.6 million (US$157) to Rp 7.4 million per month.
The complex, made up of three 16-story towers, contains 723 apartment units, each measuring 36 square meters and featuring two bedrooms, a living room, a bathroom, and a balcony.
Monthly rents will range from Rp 865,000 to Rp 1.8 million, based on resident's income levels, as stipulated in Jakarta Regulation No. 1/2024 on regional taxes and retributions.
The Rp 382 billion project also includes various supporting facilities, such as a sports field, clinic, playground, library and an early childhood education center (PAUD).
'We will build [new towers at Rusunawa] Rorotan and Padat Karya and revitalise Rusunawa Marunda,' Pramono said, acknowledging the city's responsibility to provide affordable and decent housing for its citizens.
According to the Jakarta Housing Agency, the city is currently facing a housing occupancy backlog affecting at least 288,393 families, while the homeownership backlog has reached approximately 1.86 million families.
Meanwhile, a 2024 report by Statistics Indonesia (BPS) revealed that only 54 percent of Jakarta households own their homes, marking the lowest homeownership rate in the country, which is well below the national average of nearly 85 percent.
Another 2024 BPS report showed that, amid rising home prices, an increasing number of Jakartans are choosing to rent, making the capital the province with the highest proportion of households living in rental housing.
Chico Hakim, special staffer to Governor Pramono, told The Jakarta Post on Tuesday (May 13) that the city plans to provide 1,153 additional apartment units by next year, comprising 865 new units to be built at Rusunawa Padat Karya and Rorotan IX, and 288 units to be revitalised at the currently idle Rusunawa Marunda.
All of them are located in Cilincing, North Jakarta, which has the highest number of poor households among the municipality's six districts.
'[The rusunawa programme] targets Jakarta residents with a monthly income below Rp 8 million,' Chico said, while also noting ongoing issues with rent arrears.
According to the city's Public Housing Agency, outstanding rent payments have accumulated to Rp 95.5 billion.
To prevent similar issues in the future, Chico said the city administration plans to implement stricter documentation and eligibility checks during the application process.
Yayat Supriatna, an urban planner from Trisakti University, argued that the problem also stems from the remote locations of many rusunawa, making it difficult for residents to maintain stable incomes and afford rent.
'What Jakarta needs are integrated housing complexes. Building more rusunawa is essential, but they must be linked to economic activities,' Yayat said on Tuesday.
Given that rusunawa residents are typically low-income individuals, Yayat added that the government should also offer them social assistance programmes and employment opportunities.
'This way, the rusunawa programme can not only provide affordable housing, but also help improve residents' livelihoods,' he said, adding that such improvements would attract more residents and change the perception of rusunawa from being seen as a last resort.
Mohammed Ali Berawi, a civil engineering professor at the University of Indonesia, echoed similar concerns.
While supporting the need for integration, he emphasised the importance of moving away from negative stereotypes.
'[In] the design of rusunawa, [...] crucial–mobility, accessibility and available facilities all play a role,' Ali said. - The Jakarta Post/ANN
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
BusinessToday
3 hours ago
- BusinessToday
Elevated Volatility Anticipated For USD, MYR Pair
The Malaysian ringgit has displayed unexpected strength this week, hovering around the 4.22-4.23 mark against the US dollar as the Dollar Index (DXY) slipped below 98.0. This performance comes amidst shifting global currency dynamics and anticipation surrounding crucial trade negotiations. The US dollar faced downward pressure early in the week without a clear immediate catalyst. However, a stronger Euro, bolstered by defensive reallocations ahead of the August 1 deadline for potential US-EU tariffs, appears to have driven the greenback's weakness. Markets seem to be favoring the Euro in light of these trade uncertainties. Concurrently, the Japanese Yen also gained ground following a newly inked US-Japan trade agreement, further contributing to the US dollar's softening. These movements provided a tailwind for risk assets, prompting a rotation of investments from the US into emerging markets. From a data perspective, the US labour market remains firm, contrasting with emerging signs of weakness in housing data. Ahead of the Federal Reserve's upcoming policy decision – where a no-change in interest rates is widely expected – market attention will be fixed on key economic reports. These include the JOLTS (Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey) report, ADP private sector jobs data, and the advance Q2 2025 GDP reading. A string of positive surprises from these indicators could reignite hawkish Federal Reserve expectations, potentially strengthening the US dollar. The outcome of the US-EU tariff deal, along with other pending negotiations, will also be closely watched in the run-up to Friday's deadline. Outlook for the Ringgit Kenanga Research indicates that softer US data will be necessary to support their call for a September Fed rate cut. For now, the consensus points towards a resilient US economy. A favorable US-EU trade deal is expected to further support the Euro and overall risk sentiment globally. For the Malaysian ringgit, a significant near-term risk remains the ongoing trade talks with the US. As Minister of Investment, Trade, and Industry Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz recently confirmed, negotiations are intensifying to reduce an impending 25% US import tariff to below 20% before the August 1 deadline. A 'no-deal' outcome from these discussions could exert considerable downward pressure on the ringgit. Given the data-heavy week and the politically sensitive trade negotiations, currency analysts expect elevated volatility for the USD/MYR pair, anticipating it to trade within the 4.20–4.25 range. Technically, the USD/MYR is currently anchored near its 5-day Exponential Moving Average (EMA) at 4.23, with immediate support at 4.22 and resistance at 4.23. Related
The Star
6 hours ago
- The Star
Indonesia court convicts aide of former president Megawati in blow to opposition
JAKARTA: An Indonesian court convicted a senior aide to former President Megawati Soekarnoputri in a corruption case, dealing a blow to the leadership of the nation's main opposition party. The Central Jakarta District Court on Friday (July 25) found Hasto Kristiyanto (pic), secretary general of Megawati's Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), guilty of bribing a former election commission official in 2019 to facilitate the replacement of a member of parliament. Hasto was sentenced to three and a half years in prison and fined 250 million rupiah (US$15,319). The court acquitted him of a separate charge of obstructing a corruption investigation into a fugitive linked to the party. Both parties have seven days to appeal the verdict. Prosecutors had sought a seven-year sentence. The case has revived longstanding concerns about judicial independence in the South-East Asian democracy, particularly as other opposition-linked figures come under legal scrutiny. Last week, a vocal government critic and former trade minister was convicted in a graft case related to sugar imports. Hasto has consistently denied wrongdoing. He said Friday that his verdict was similar to what the former minister had experienced, "where the law becomes a tool of power.' Prosecutors previously have denied any ulterior motive in the case. The ruling represents a setback for PDI-P, the largest party in parliament and the sole major party outside the ruling coalition of President Prabowo Subianto. The imprisonment of a senior official could diminish the party's parliamentary influence, and prompt internal debates over whether to continue its relatively non-adversarial stance or emerge as a stronger opposition force. Political analysts have long perceived the charges against Hasto as politically driven, in part because they stemmed from events dating back years and because of the timing of a falling-out with former President Joko Widodo. The case originated late last year after PDI-P formally ended its alliance with Widodo for endorsing Prabowo rather than the party's own candidate in Indonesia's presidential election. In court, Hasto had claimed he was threatened with arrest if his party went ahead with expelling Widodo. The former president has denied any involvement in the alleged threat, telling reporters in March that there would be no point in threatening someone not to expel him. "What would I gain? What would I lose?' he said according to local media outlet Detik News. The verdict comes a week after Thomas Trikasih Lembong, the former trade minister and a vocal critic of both Widodo and Prabowo in recent years, was found guilty in a case related to sugar imports a decade ago. Both Lembong and prosecutors this week filed appeals in the case. - Bloomberg
The Star
7 hours ago
- The Star
Thailand-Cambodia conflict could trigger global tuna pert food shortages
MOSCOW: The escalating tensions between Thailand and Cambodia could cause a serious shortage of canned tuna due to Thailand's dominant position in this market, according to RIA Novosti's analysis of Thai Tuna Industry Association data. In 2023, global exports of canned tuna totalled 1.6 million tonnes, with Thailand accounting for a dominant 28 per cent of that volume. Ecuador, the second-largest exporter, held just a 14 per cent share, followed by China at 9 per cent. Thailand's canned tuna exports surged by 30 per cent in 2024, reaching 580,000 tonnes, up from 445,000 tonnes a year earlier. The United States is the largest consumer of Thai canned tuna, accounting for 21 per cent of purchases, followed by Japan, Australia, and Libya (7 per cent each), and Saudi Arabia (6 per cent). According to the UN's Food and Agriculture Organisation, Thailand also controls around 8 per cent of the global tuna trade (both fresh and processed), trailing Ecuador (12 per cent), China (11 per cent), and Indonesia (8.5 per cent). According to RIA Novosti's analysis of UN Comtrade data, a disruption in trade due to the Thai-Cambodian conflict could also impact the global pet food market, as Thailand was the world's second-largest exporter of pet food in 2024, with US$2.7 billion worth of shipments or just over 10 per cent of the global total. Only Germany exported more, with exports totalling US$3.3 billion. The United States was the top buyer of Thai pet food, accounting for nearly one-third of Thailand's exports. Other major importers included Japan (12 per cent), Australia and Italy (6 per cent each), Malaysia (5 per cent), and the Philippines and Germany (4 per cent each). Thailand's presence in the Russian pet food market remains minimal, with imports totalling just US$4.9 million last year. In March 2024, Russia's Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Supervision banned six Thai enterprises from the Russian market. The long-standing dispute between Thailand and Cambodia over the 11th-century Preah Vihear Temple, a Unesco World Heritage site, escalated Thursday. Following weeks of heightened tensions from landmine incidents and subsequent mutual diplomatic expulsions, heavy artillery and rocket attacks erupted near border temples. Al Jazeera reported, citing the Thai Health Ministry, that bombing and shelling had killed at least 11 civilians and a soldier in Thailand. The authorities of four Thai provinces bordering Cambodia have announced the evacuation of residents amid the escalation, The Nation newspaper reported. - Bernama-Sputnik/Ria Novosti
