Book Review of Swasembada Papan 2045, Fadli Zon: A Worthy Home is Not Just a Building

JAKARTA - Minister of Culture Fadli Zon considers that the issue of housing cannot be seen as a matter of buildings. The house is a basic human right and part of the nation's culture.

He conveyed this when attending the launch and book surgery of Indonesia Menuju Swasembada Papan 2045 by Deputy Minister of Housing and Spatial Planning Fahri Hamzah at Menara 2 BTN, Setiabudi, Jakarta, Thursday, May 21.

According to Fadli, the book photographs the housing problem in Indonesia in a contextual manner and offers a roadmap for housing development towards 2045.

He associated the issue of the board with the idea of people's welfare. Fadli quoted Bung Hatta's view that a free nation is a nation whose people are happy.

"The happiness of the people is seen from being happy because there is food, clothing, and shelter. Then health protection and old age security," said Fadli.

Fadli also said that the ideas in the book were in line with Article 33 of the 1945 Constitution. The article stipulates that the earth, water, and natural wealth are controlled by the state for the greatest prosperity of the people.

According to Fadli, this mandate also needs to be translated into social housing policies.

"In the President's speech in the DPR on May 20, it is very clear that we must return to the 1945 Constitution, especially Article 33," said Fadli.

The book discussion also featured a number of panelists in the fields of development and housing, including BTN Commissioner Panangian Simanungkalit, Chairman of Realestat Indonesia Joko Suranto, architect and Director of Rujak Center for Urban Studies Marco Kusumawijaya, and senior housing figure Iskandar Saleh.

Marco highlighted the weakness of people's purchasing power in the housing market. According to him, the state needs to be present to maintain social housing stocks.

"Currently, the purchasing power of small communities is very low. Therefore, it is important to encourage the role of the state in maintaining social housing stocks," said Marco.

Iskandar Saleh also hopes that the idea of social housing in the book can help certain groups of people, especially the lower middle class.

The event was also attended by the Head of the Housing Task Force Hashim Djojohadikusumo, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Anis Matta, a number of deputy ministers, BTN officials, developer associations, banks, and housing activists.

Fadli hopes that the book Indonesia Menuju Swasembada Papan 2045 can be a spark for cross-ministerial cooperation. According to him, the provision of decent housing is not sufficiently understood as a physical project, but also part of social and cultural development.