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Lawmakers berate minister over unclear ‘3 million houses’ program
The housing minister found himself in the hot seat on Monday when Commission V lambasted the government’s ambitious housing program as lacking a clear road map, with one lawmaker calling it "mere talk".
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Visitors look at a scale model of the Ammamia Ecoforest residential complex in Tangerang, Banten, during an exhibit on April 24, 2024. (Antara/Muhammad Iqbal)
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ublic Housing and Settlements Minister Maruarar “Ara” Sirait came under fire on Monday during a working meeting with House of Representatives Commission V about the government’s “3 million houses” program.
Members of House Commission V, which oversees infrastructure and the development of disadvantaged regions, criticized the lack of progress on the program, from budgeting and planning to construction.
“There is no budget, no implementation. It's already May, the target of 2,247,088 houses is still nowhere to be found,” said Yanuar Arif Wibowo, a Commission V lawmaker from the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS), as quoted by Kompas.com.
Yanuar even referred to the program as “mere talk”, implying it was an empty promise.
Meanwhile, Commission V lawmaker Haryanto from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) questioned the program’s budget plan.
"It is still unclear how much will be financed by the government, how much will fall under the responsibility of investors, and how to mitigate the risks if the target is not achieved," he said.
For example, Haryanto said, if the government’s Self-Help Housing Stimulus Assistance (BSPS) scheme of Rp 20 million (US$1,220) per house were used, the program would still require additional funding of Rp 60 trillion.
