It's Been A Year, The PKBI Polemic And The Ministry Of Health Have Not Found A Final Point

Photo: Special

JAKARTA - It has been a year since the Indonesian Family Planning Association (PKBI) central building was unilaterally occupied by the Ministry of Health. On July 10, 2024, with the support of Satpol PP and the capital of a letter of right to use from ATR/BPN, the Ministry of Health took over the PKBI building.

The Ministry of Health took over the building of the self-help institution based on the Certificate of Use Rights (SHP) No. 374/Gunung which was issued on August 10, 1999 on behalf of the Ministry of Health. The Ministry of Health stated that the takeover was carried out according to law, based on a decision with permanent legal force, both in terms of civil and state administration.

However, PKBI expressed objections to the takeover. They assessed that the move was carried out unilaterally, without official handover and without respect for the long history of the building they claimed they had occupied and built since 1970.

"This building is not just an asset. This is a symbol of the struggle for family health services in Indonesia which was initiated by Dr. Suharto, founder of PKBI and national health figure," said Ichsan Malik, Chairman of the PKBI National Executive Board representing PKBI, Thursday, July 10.

PKBI claims that the building land was a grant from the Governor of DKI Jakarta at that time and that there was no legal basis for transfer of rights, either in the form of court decisions or administrative processes that involved them directly.

PKBI admitted that it had repeatedly attempted to establish communication with the Directorate General of Health Workers at the Ministry of Health, but had not yet found a solution. They also criticized the use of Satpol PP officers in the process of taking over the physical process which was considered to ignore the ethics of public services.

"We have been waiting for a year. We will not stop hoping for justice and appreciation for history," said the PKBI.

This dispute highlights the overlap between legal ownership and historical value, as well as the urgency of a fair and open settlement through mediation or a more formal legal pathway.