Governor vows to investigate apartment sales<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Governor Surjadi Soedirdja vows to investigate
\nreports that several apartments built for fishermen in Muara
\nAngke, North Jakarta were sold by the owners.<\/p>\n
The governor said yesterday that he takes the reports
\nseriously and will have the case investigated. The sale of the
\napartments was reported by several local media. He said the city
\nhousing agency has not yet reported the matter to him.<\/p>\n
\"I want to be informed about the matter as soon as possible as
\nselling the apartments is a violation of the regulation. It has
\nalso caused losses to the government,\" Surjadi told reporters.<\/p>\n
Surjadi said that according to the regulation, the fishermen
\nare not allowed to sell their apartments because the government
\nbuilt the homes to help them obtain decent, healthy places to
\nlive in.<\/p>\n
The government, including the city administration, spent much
\nmoney building the housing, he added.<\/p>\n
However, he acknowledged that most of the fishermen face
\nfinancial problems and could be easily tempted to sell the
\napartments just to get instant cash.<\/p>\n
\"It's hard to uphold the regulation if the fishermen have to
\nget money quickly,\" he said.<\/p>\n
It was reported that some of the fishermen needed instant cash
\nto pay off debts, while others sold their apartments merely
\nbecause of the temptation of high prices.<\/p>\n
Surjadi said he is pretty sure that the new owners of the
\napartments rent them to other people, instead of to house their
\nfamilies.<\/p>\n
\"This is not right. The government meant to spend all that
\nmoney for the poor who need better places to live,\" Surjadi said.<\/p>\n
The government has been building the fishermen's housing
\ncomplex in Muara Angke since 1978, including a low-cost apartment
\nbuilding which was built last year. Up to now there is housing
\nfor 1,016 families in the complex. Ninety-six apartments are
\nstill under construction.<\/p>\n
Donation<\/p>\n
President Soeharto inaugurated the low-cost apartments, which
\nwere constructed with a donation from the Dana Gotong Royong
\nKemanusiaan Foundation, last year. The complex has five apartment
\nblocks, with each apartment measuring between 16 and 21 square
\nmeters.<\/p>\n
Observers said, however, the apartments are too luxurious for
\nthe fishermen who are used to living in slums.<\/p>\n
The city administration set aside Rp 4 million of its budget
\nto build apartments for fishermen in the hope that they would pay
\nfor them in monthly installments.<\/p>\n
Occupants of the upper story pay off their apartments in
\nmonthly installments of Rp 45,000 (US$20.45) for 15 years, while
\nthose on the ground floor pay Rp 55,000 per month. (yns)<\/p>",
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