Many Mock Up Talks House 14 Square Meters, Apersi: It Must Be Corrected

JAKARTA - The appearance of a tiny 14 square meter house mock-up on display at Lippo Mall Nusantara (formerly Plaza Semanggi), Central Jakarta, has drawn public criticism.

The appearance of the mock-up was also widely linked to the discourse of the Ministry of Housing and Settlement Areas (PKP) which wanted to change the size of subsidized houses to 18 square meters.

Suddenly, this received a reaction from the Association of Housing and Settlement Developers throughout Indonesia (Apersi).

They questioned the clarity of the government subsidized housing project plan.

"We question whether for subsidized houses or commercial houses, you have to straighten it out. This is if there has never been a subsidized house within the big city, even though its area is 18 square meters," said Apersi General Chair Junaidi Abdillah in a discussion with the media, Friday, June 20.

The issue in the spotlight is because land prices are quite high in urban areas. It is known, land prices in Jakarta have reached millions of rupiah per square meter, even on the outskirts of Jakarta are no longer affordable.

"For example, if there is Jakarta on the outskirts or not, the land costs Rp. 5 million. River 25 square meters, it's already Rp. 125 million. Haven't costed building materials yet, the logic is not Rp. 150 million? Right, it's impossible," he said.

According to Junaidi, one of the solutions to solving housing problems in urban areas leads to vertical housing, with the government's contribution having to provide land.

"Yes, the solution is how to strengthen vertical buildings in urban areas. Indeed, the price is expensive, but the solution is government incentives from land subsidies, not money subsidies to developers. So, the land must be prepared by the government," he explained.

Even so, Junaidi still appreciates the steps taken by the Ministry of PKP which remain open in formulating policies, so there are public discussions.

"The government has good intentions, the house is only an option. So, the Ministry of PKP is open to public discussions. That's Mr. Ara (Minister of PKP) involving good public discussions," he concluded.