DPR Member Receives Information on Alleged Heritage Violation at Presidential Palace

Deputy Chairman of House Commission X Kurniasih Mufidayati has admitted to hearing rumours regarding an alleged cultural heritage violation at the Jakarta Presidential Palace. She obtained the information from social media. However, she stated that to ascertain whether the alleged violation actually occurred, the House requires time to research and gather valid and credible information. “Because we have not yet obtained the research, we cannot comment much,” Kurniasih said when met at the Commission X meeting room on Thursday, 2 July 2026. She stated that Commission X, which oversees cultural heritage affairs, must be objective in absorbing and receiving circulating information, including from social media. “The verification is like that; determining whether something is a violation or not must be decided objectively, it must be evidence-based,” said the PKS politician. The issue of an alleged cultural heritage violation in the Jakarta Presidential Palace building was uploaded by activist John Muhammad via Instagram @jonhmuhammad_ on Monday, 29 June 2026. John has permitted Tempo to quote statements from his social media. In the post containing 18 slides, John displayed a photo of a building approximately 3 to 4 storeys high within the Presidential Palace Complex area. He also released satellite image captures with different timelines. As of 8 February 2024, John said, the building in question was not yet visible. Only trees were apparent at the location. However, on 26 July 2025, the location marked by John with dashed lines and a red cross began to show construction activity. The location marked by John is in the northern part of Merdeka Palace. As of 17 March 2026, a rectangular roof of the building began to appear at the location when viewed from satellite imagery. When contacted, John stated that, pursuant to Article 9 letters a and b, as well as Article 10 letters a through e of Law Number 11 of 2010, the Jakarta Presidential Palace Area qualifies as a heritage site and cultural property. He questioned whether the construction of a new building in the area had fulfilled the requirements, starting from a pre-feasibility study, recommendation from a cultural heritage expert team, integrated licensing, public transparency, to integrated supervision. “Without these conditions or stages, the construction of a new building in the Jakarta Presidential Palace area may be subject to sanctions for cultural heritage violations,” John said on Thursday, 2 July 2026. Tempo has sent a query to Minister of State Secretary Prasetyo Hadi regarding the alleged cultural heritage violation at the Presidential Palace. However, as of the publication of this report, Prasetyo has not provided an answer.