Foreigners and property

The Jakarta Post , Jakarta | Thu, 03/02/2006 7:19 AM | Opinion

I read with interest your article Calls grow for foreign property ownership in The Jakarta Post on Feb. 28.

As an Indonesian working with foreigners, I find it amazing that our government does not allow foreigners to buy property on an equal basis with citizens.

My uncle (an Indonesian citizen) recently purchased a very nice three-bedroom house in Singapore without any problems at all. So if we can buy property so easily overseas, why can't people from overseas buy property here?

It is not like all of a sudden, hundreds of thousands of foreigners will rush to buy property in Indonesia.

Also, I was amazed with the Indonesian Real Estate Association recommending that foreign nationals only be ""allowed"" to purchase newly built property.

It is a well-known fact that property bought ""off-the-plan"" is much more expensive than second-hand homes or hotels.

With citizens of other countries helping us in Aceh, and so many international NGOs here, what kind of message are we sending to non-citizens, who happen to live here in Indonesia?

Is it only deemed acceptable to sell them property if it is at inflated prices?

DENI A RAHMAN
Jakarta

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