GOVERNMENT PREPARES INNOVATIONS TO REACH HOUSING TARGET

by Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Oct 27 (Antara) -  The government has launched its annual one million home development program to meet the need of its people for housing, though it has never reached the target since the scheme was launched in 2015.          Hence, the government should prepare strategic steps to meet the housing target. The one million house program, as proclaimed by President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) in 2015, is expected to be met, among others, with the assistance of a number of digital technology innovations prepared by the Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR).          "PUPR supports disruptive technology  to improve services in the housing sector and to make the process faster, better and cheaper," said Secretary General of the Ministry of PUPR Anita Firmanti, in a written statement received in Jakarta on Thursday (Oct 25).          According to Firmanti, disruptive technologies are expected to support the achievement of the one million house development program launched by President Jokowi to gradually reduce the shortage of housing in Indonesia.          One of the innovations that are needed to make this happen is information technology that supports the efficiency of the housing market based on information on housing demands.          In addition, digital technology is also considered to be able to improve supply chain efficiency in the housing development process.

GOVERNMENT FAILS TO MEET ITS ONE MILLION HOUSE TARGET

by Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Dec 23 (Antara) - The government seems to be failing again in meeting its target to develop one million houses for homeless families this year, as it could successfully build only 765,120 units up to the end of last month.          The government has since 2015 launched an annual one million house development program, yet it was unable to meet the target since then. In 2015, it only developed 699,770 units, while in 2016, it built 765,120 houses.          Public Works and Public Housing Ministry acknowledged that it had fallen short of its target to build one million units of houses a year.          "Yes, we have not reached the target. The realization has reached only 765,120 units this year, including 70 percent houses for low-income people (MBR) and 30 percent for non-MBR," Director General of Housing Khalawi Abdul Hamid told reporters in Jakarta on Tuesday (Dec 5).          Hamid stated that the program was launched to reduce the backlog of 7.6 million units, which grow by 800 thousand units per year. Based on the data of the Central Bureau of Statistics (BPS) and the National Development Planning Board (Bappenas), there were 13.5 million homeless families in 2014. The housing backlog has reached 7.6 million units.

GOVT DEREGULATES HOUSING FOR LOW-INCOME PEOPLE

by Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Aug 26 (Antara) - The government has issued a de-regulatory measure to facilitate the construction of low-cost housing for low-income people.          The measure, part of the efforts to implement the government's one million house development program, was aimed at enabling low-income people to have a house of their own. It was contained in the 13th tranche of the government's Economic Policy Package (PKE XIII) announced last Wednesday (Aug 24).          According to Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR) Minister Basuki Hadimuljono, the government specifically issued the PKE XIII as a concrete measure to fulfill what was conceived by the first vice president Bung Hatta.          It was Bung Hatta's dream to provide decent housing for all people, particularly those from the low-income group, including families of the civil servants and members of the military and National Police.      "The aim behind the issuance of the PKE XIII is to facilitate the construction of low-cost houses for low-income people by streamlining the licensing procedures," Minister Basuki Hadimuljono said when visiting the tomb of Bung Hatta at Tanah Kusir Public Cemetery. The visit was also in conjunction with the National Housing Day observed on Thursday.

GOVT'S ONE MILLION HOUSES PROGRAM MOVING SLOWLY

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, April 12 (Antara) - The government's one million houses development program this year has been progressing at a slow pace.          Till last March, the physical construction of the 112,992 houses being built by the public housing ministry had been completed only to 0.4 percent extent.          The government is to build 112,992 units this year out of these one million houses while others are to be built by other agencies or by the private sector.          The Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing (PURR) openly admitted that million houses program for the lower-income people (MBR) has not gone on track smoothly this year.          "This year, the program is on, and while it is the beginning of the year, not much has been achieved so far. Even, the government's part in the program is lacking, and is still in the physical construction stage," Deddy Permadi, the director for house development planning of the PURR, said on March 28.          Last year, the government launched its one million houses program to provide 603,516 shelters to the country's low-income people (MBR), and 396,464 others to non-MBR families.          This year, the government is determined to continue the program and make the procedures more easy to overcome constraints.

"TAPERA" EXPECTED TO HELP SOLVE HOUSING BACKLOG

by Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, March 2 (Antara) - The newly enacted law on public housing savings (UU Tapera) scheme is expected to help the government tackle the housing backlog in the country and facilitate small employees and other low-paid workers to own houses.          Chairman of the Regional Representative Council (DPD) Irman Gusman hoped that the enactment of the draft law on Tapera would overcome the problems being faced by people from the low-income group who are keen to own houses.          "With the law on public housing, all stakeholders are expected to have solutions to the housing problems being faced by the people," Irman stated while opening a group discussion at the Parliament building on Wednesday last week.          He emphasized that it was mandatory to make efforts to meet the basic necessity of the public such as by issuing a law on public housing to facilitate people to own houses.          "It is a mandatory matter. Efforts should not only be focused on a certain sector such as on financial management," he emphasized.          The government should narrow the gap in housing ownership in the society. Through regulations, the government is obligated to provide housing for all sections of the society, noted Irman.          The House of Representatives (DPR) enacted into law the Bill on Tapera scheme on Tuesday (Feb. 23) last week.

HOUSING PROGRAM FOR LOW-INCOME PEOPLE IN PROGRESS

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, May 11 (Antara) -- The Indonesian government is developing houses under its one million housing development program to provide 603,516 shelters to the country's low-income people (MBR) and 396,464 others to non-MBR families.          President Joko Widodo, who is popularly known as Jokowi, recently (April 29) launched the one million housing development program simultaneously in nine regions through a video conference centered in Ungaran in Semarang, Central Java.          In Ungaran, the president conducted the ceremonial groundbreaking for the construction of 103,135 houses as part of the first phase of the construction of one million houses.          In the first phase, the government will build 331,693 houses for low-income people in the nine regions of Semarang, North Sumatra, South Sumatra, Jakarta, Banten, West Java, East Java, Central Kalimantan and South Sulawesi.          In these regions, the laying of the cornerstones was carried out simultaneously, marking the beginning of the construction of one million houses. It was done through a video conference with the president.          Of the 603,561 units of houses prepared for low-income people, 331,693 will be built in the first phase, 98,020 in the second phase and 173,803 in the third stage.          Public Works and Public Housing Minister Basuki Hadimuljono had said that his ministry will commence work this year to reduce the large backlog in the implementation of the housing program.

INDONESIA TO LAUNCH ONE-MILLION HOUSE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, April 13 (Antara) -- The government must prioritize low-income people in its one million housing development program, which will be launched at the end of the month.          The Public Works and Public Housing Ministry and state-owned housing developer PT Perumnas will team up to carry out the government program of building one million units of houses over the next five years.          Public Works and Public Housing Minister Basuki Hadimuljono said that his ministry will start work this year to reduce the big backlog in the implementation of the housing program.      According to Hadimuljono, the government already set aside Rp13 trillion from the state budget and Rp500 million from the Social Security Management Agency (BPJS) for the program to build one million units of houses.          It has also allocated Rp220 billion in the revised State Budget 2015 for assistance in the down payment for housing credits. Those entitled to the financial assistance are buyers of modest houses who earn a maximum salary of Rp4 million per month and buyers of modest apartments who earn a salary of Rp7 million per month.          So far, low-income people have been forgotten in the development of public housing. Therefore, the Indonesian Property Watch has urged the government to give priority to this group of people.

GOVT TRYING TO PROVIDE 15 MILLION HOUSES FOR THE POOR

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, June 14 (Antara) - The government is doing its best to provide houses for   poor families which account for about 12 percent of the country's about 240 million population.          Indonesia now needs to provide some 15 millions of houses for poor families to meet their need for adequate shelters. But due to limited funds, the government is still planning to meet the need in stage.      Public Housing Minister Djan Faridz  said recently that his ministry was planning to build one million units of houses for low-income people until 2014.         "Last year we have a budget allocation for the construction of 250 thousand houses. This year we also get the same amount of allocation. If we have a budget for 500 thousand houses next year, we will have achieved one million houses by 2014," Djan Faridz said.       On Thursday, the public housing minister met the House of Representatives to propose a budget of Rp19.9 trillion for 2014 as there was a shortage of Rp15.6 trillion as compared to its 2014 work plan which was set at Rp4.2 trillion.          As housing is a basic need, some quarters have urged the government to interfere in solving the problem of shortage of housing for lower income people.         "The government should interfere in providing housing for the people like what is done by the Singapore government," Associate Director Ray White Indonesia Erwin Karya said on Tuesday this week.

GOVT BUILDS HOUSES FOR POOR FAMILIES

By Andi Addussalam

Jakarta, Feb 28 (Antara) - The government will build about one million houses for poor families as part of its efforts to further reduce the country's poverty rate it has lowered from 14.2 percent in 2009 to 12 percent in 2012.          "Poverty indicators could be cut by half if poor families already have houses. Therefore, we want to provide houses for poor families. We want to include those in the 'Keluarga Harapan' program," Social Affairs Minister Salim Segar Al Jufri said on Wednesday.          The Ministry of Social Affairs has launched a family-based poverty elevation program called 'Keluarga Harapan' program.          According to data from the National Statistics Agency (BPS), the rate of poverty in the country has continued to decline from 14.2 percent of the population in 2009 to 13.3 percent in 2010, 12.5 percent in 2011 and 12 percent in 2012.          Minister Al Jufri met with Minister for Public Housing Djan Faridz on Wednesday to discuss how to provide houses for poor families in Indonesia as part of the government efforts to reduce further the poverty rate.          According to Minister Djan Faridz, his ministry is planning to build one million houses for poor families until 2014. This program is aimed to speed up poverty alleviation programs in Indonesia.

HOUSE LEADERS REPORTED TO ETHICS COUNCIL

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Oct 11 (ANTARA) - The bickering between lawmakers and the House of representatives (DPR) leaders over a "cordial meeting" between the House leadership and Police chief candidate Commissioner General Timur Pradopo continued on Monday with four Commission III members on legal affairs filing a complaint to the House's Ethics Council.          On the other hand, House Deputy Speaker Pramono Anung called on the Commission III members to have dialogues and stop what he called as polemics regarding the "cordial meeting." He asked protesting legislators not to waste energy  and involve the House's Ethics Council.          The squabble began when the DPR leadership held a closed-door meeting last week with the police chief candidate before he underwent a fit-and-proper test by Commission III, an event which members of Commission III saw as deviating from the normal practice.          "The invitation of the House  leadership to the Police Chief candidate for a cordial meeting is an unusual proceeding ahead of a candidate's   fit-and-proper test," Gayus Lumbun of the Indonesian Democratic Party-Struggle (PDIP) said.          Pradopo, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's sole candidate for National Police Chief, still has to go through a fit-and-proper test to be conducted by the House's Comission III which deals with legal affairs.          Earlier, House Speaker Marzuki Alie also announced the content of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's letter on the proposed name of the police chief candidate before it was read in a House plenary.          Besides that, the House leadership also had a closed-door meeting with the Police chief candidate Commissioner General Timor Pradopo before a fit-and-proper test was conducted on him by Commission III.          However, according to House Deputy Speaker  Priyo Budi Santoso, the meeting was only a cordial one. "There was nothing special in the meeting," Priyo said.          Priyo explained that cordial meeting with Pradopo based on the agreement reached a House leadership meeting earlier.   "The House leadership at a meeting agreed to have a cordial meeting with the Police chief candidate before the fit-and-proper test is conducted," Priyo said.          Yet,  lawmakers of  Commission III have different opinions. Gayus Lumbuun and Bambang Soesatyo for example, have criticized the House leadership's cordial meeting.          Bambang Soesatyo of the Golkar Party, said House Spealer Marzuki Alie's invitation to Timur Pradopo before the latter's fit-and-proper test was an unethical act. "It can even arouse the  people's suspicion. By meeting Pradopo before he passes the fit-and-proper test, the House leadership has stolen the start," he said.          Bambang agreed with Gayus Lumbuun that the holding of the cordial meeting with a candidate for a top post in a state institution was uncommon.          Gayus in his statement called on the House leadership to always act in accordance with House rules.          "According to existing House rules, House leadership members fulfill the same functions as ordinary House members and everything they plan to do should be approved by the  other members through a House plenary meeting or at a meeting of the House's Consultative Body  (Bamus)" Gayus said.           Finally, the discontent lawmakers collected signatures to express a vote of no confidence.           In response to this, House   Speaker Marzuki Alie ridiculed the action of a group of lawmakers in issuing a "no confidence" motion against  the House leadership.          "They felt as if they (Commission III) were the most rightful so that they were not prepared to be bypassed ," Marzuki Alie said.  He said  if Commission III was of the view that the House leadership meeting with Pradopo  was against House rules, it should show the House leadership's  mistake and the House rule concerned.          "Show us the rule we have violated. They should not disturb  the House leadership's business. Is the leadership not allowed to invite Timur. Are people not allowed to meet the House leadership," he said.          He said that what the House leadership had done in inviting Pradopo for a cordial meeting was a normal thing.          "There is no problem with the meeting with Timur. The House leadership did not take over the Commission III's function," Marzuki said.          Amid calls for a dialogue to end the polemics, four members of Commission III  on behalf of 31 other colleagues who had signed a letter of no-confidence motion filed a complaint to the House's Ethics Council on House leadership's recent action in holding a closed-door meeting with Police chief candidate.          "We have just received this complaint  and we will process it to see whether it meets the requirements to be discussed further and ruled on," Nudirman Munir, a member of the House Ethics Council, said upon receiving the written complaint.          The four Commission III members who reported the House leaders were Syarifuddin Suddeng of the People's Conscience Party faction (F-Fanura), Eva Sundari of the Indonesian Democratic Party Faction (FPDIP), Bambang Soesatyo of the Golkar Party faction (FPG) and Ahmad Yani of the United Development Party faction (FPPP).          The four lawmakers represented their colleagues in the Commission III.  "The Ethics Council is the proper place to file a complaint and we will process this report based on the standing procedures," Nudirman said.          Sudding said the action taken by  the four Commission III members was intended to correct the House leadership which was suspected to have violated the House's internal rules.          He said  the 31 members of Commission III who signed the protest or the vote of no confidence only intended to straighten out  House leadership practices that violated House rules.          In response to the protest, leaders of the House of Representatives asked the Commission III members to stop polemics  and hold a dialog instead.          Deputy Speaker of the House Pramono Anung said on Monday that the House leadership would ask the Commission III members not to prolong the polemics over the meeting.  "We should now stop the polemics. We will ask our colleagues Commission III members to sit together," Pramono Anung said.          Anung asked the commission members not to sharpen the problem and not to involve the House's Ethics Council. "We should not protract the problem into an internal conflict in the House. Let's sit together and find the best way. We should not spend energy for that," Anung who is a former secretary general of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (DPIP) said.          For this, he said, the House leadership would decide a schedule for the meeting between the commission members and the House leadership.       "It is expected that all House leaders would attend the meeting so that the polemics over the meeting between the DPR leaders and the police chief candidate would be stopped," he said.***1*** (T.A014/A/HAJM/17:45/a014) 11-10-2010 17:49: