T

enants of rusunawa (low cost apartments) in Jakarta with non-Jakarta ID cards have been rushing to register with the city administration in order to keep their homes and stay in the city.

The city administration last month announced it would begin checking occupants of subsidized housing in an effort to curb illegal brokerage practices. Occupants with non-Jakarta cards or proven illegal tenants would be kicked out.

Tenants of Rusunawa Pinus Elok in Pulo Gebang, East Jakarta, who do not have Jakarta IDs have been keen to keep up to date with the new rules, according to rusunawa coordinator Firda. She said that the city administration had provided an ID card processing booth at the rusunawa.

'€œThe city administration has come here twice to process ID cards. Many tenants registered because they wanted to keep their homes,'€ Firda told The Jakarta Post recently.

Tenants of Rusunawa Pulo Gebang, East Jakarta, according to coordinator Taufik, have also done the same.

'€œI have disseminated the new rules to tenants and they are complying. Those whose ID cards do not match their residency are registering for new ones,'€ Taufik said.

Hartanti, a tenant of Rusunawa Pinus Elok, said she was in the process of changing her ID card.

'€œI heard that the city administration was going to evict low-cost apartment tenants with non-Jakarta ID cards. I can'€™t afford to be evicted so I registered for a Jakarta ID card,'€ she said.

Hartanti, who is originally from Purworejo, Central Jakarta, came to Jakarta with her husband several years ago to look for work. However, they ended up living as squatters near the Ria-Rio reservoir in Pulogadung, East Jakarta.

'€œThankfully we were relocated to the low-cost apartment last year. If I get kicked out of here, I might have to squat again,'€ Hartanti said, adding that now she sells home-cooked food from her room in the low-cost apartment while her husband is an ojek (motorcycle taxi) driver.

Another tenant in Rusunawa Pinus Elok, Asep, said he was also registering for a new ID card.

'€œI have to change my ID card or I will be evicted and become homeless,'€ said Asep, who like Hartanti was also relocated from the Ria-Rio reservoir area.

Earlier this year, the practice of illegal brokerage was revealed by the city police, which urged the city administration to tighten regulations for rusunawa tenants.

The city administration has developed a number of low-cost apartments in West and East Jakarta to accommodate relocated residents from areas affected by its development projects.

Acting governor Basuki '€œAhok'€ Tjahaja Purnama previously warned that all low-cost apartment tenants must have a Jakarta ID card or they would be evicted.

Ahok said that the administration wanted to be able to check on whether the residents were eligible tenants or not.

The measure is being taken to prevent illegal tenants and Housing Agency employees from selling apartments to residents who were not entitled to housing subsidies. (dwa)