Despite Being Offered A New Flat, Residents Survive To Live In Kampung Susun Bayam Without Electricity And Water

Illustration of flats (Between)

JAKARTA - As many as 40 families of Bayam Village residents are still living in Kampung Susun Bayam (KSB). They have remained at KSB after trying to forcibly inhabit the residence managed by PT Jakarta Propertindo (Jakpro) BUMD since December 2023.

The head of the Madani Kampung Tani Group, Muhammad Furqon, admitted that around 200 residents of Kampung Bayam still chose to occupy KSB without electricity and water, even though a new flat (rusun) had been offered by the DKI Provincial Government.

"That's it, that's it. We are still (staying) on the 2nd floor. Right, we have been waiting since March 13 for confirmation of the draft that must be signed and the validity of the key is given. Until now it has not been (given)," Furqon told reporters, Sunday, January 28.

Furqon admitted that his party did not accept that Jakpro and the DKI Provincial Government wanted to make KSB a residence for operational support workers (HPPO) Jakarta International Stadium (JIS) which is located next to each other.

This is because Furqon holds the promise of former DKI Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan who built KSB to be inhabited by residents affected by the eviction of the JIS development.

"This has taken away rights. In our opinion, yes, this has been completed. This means that it is no longer a promise. Pak Anies has given the best for the residents of Kampung Bayam, but it has been confiscated by the local government now," he explained.

Acting Governor of DKI Jakarta Heru Budi Hartono has offered a new flat which is still located in Tanjung Priok District for residents of Kampung Bayam. The flat will be built next year.

Furqon and residents still refuse to live in the new flat because the Kampung Bayam area has been a source of their livelihood for a long time.

"Now the Acting Governor has stated to build 2025. In the past two years our economy, where we make a living, has been eliminated by them. This is clearly a seizure that is really not in favor," said Furqon.

KSB was founded and inaugurated by Anies Baswedan while still serving as Governor of DKI Jakarta in October 2022. At that time, Anies built KSB to be inhabited by residents of Kampung Bayam who were affected by evictions for the construction of JIS.

The polemic between the residents of Kampung Bayam and the DKI Provincial Government began when Anies no longer served as Governor of DKI Jakarta. Initially, residents of Kampung Bayam were not allowed to inhabit KSB because they did not agree with the amount of the rental rate set by PT Jakpro as the DKI BUMD that manages it.

The solution to the matter of tariffs has ended in a dead end. The new problem is that the DKI Provincial Government and Jakpro now argue that KSB will be designated as the residence of JIS operational workers. Meanwhile, residents continue to demand that they can stay in KSB.

Finally, the Acting Governor of DKI Jakarta Heru Budi Hartono decided to build a new flat which could later be inhabited by residents affected by the eviction of the JIS development. Development will begin in 2025.

"We continue to discuss to be able to find the right and best solution. Therefore, the local government will build flats around Priok sub-district, approximately 150 to 200 units, for whom? For trained residents and residents of Kampung Bayam," said Heru in Mampang Prapatan, South Jakarta, Wednesday, January 24.