Fadli Zon: New Palace Building Not Constructed on Cultural Heritage Site
Minister of Culture Fadli Zon has claimed that the new building at the Jakarta Presidential Palace is not being constructed within a cultural heritage area. The building, which is currently under construction, is located in the eastern courtyard of Istana Merdeka.
According to Fadli, the land in question is not classified as a heritage building. Therefore, he stated that the construction of the new building presents no issues. “This is not within a cultural heritage building,” he said when met at the Palace on Tuesday, 7 July 2026.
He noted that problems only arise if the construction site has been designated as a heritage site. He cited the demolition of the former Post and Telegraph Office in Gorontalo City as an example of such a conflict.
The Gerindra Party politician believes that the construction of the new building in the Palace courtyard does not violate cultural heritage regulations because it stands on vacant land. He added that the construction is also permissible because the Palace area is a living heritage that continues to function to this day.
Fadlam claims the construction does not violate Law Number 11 of 2010 concerning Cultural Heritage. He stated that, besides being built on vacant land, the construction does not alter the form of the State Palace or Istana Merdeka, both of which hold heritage status.
He explained that the new building is necessary because the Palace frequently lacks sufficient space for large-scale events. According to him, the government often has to use tents for forums within the Palace due to this shortage of space.
He mentioned that the building currently under construction could function as a multipurpose hall. However, Fadli noted that its specific use will be regulated by the Ministry of State Secretariat and the Cabinet Secretariat.
The Deputy Chairperson of the Gerindra Party expressed hope that a new building at the Palace would provide additional meeting spaces. “Indeed, we lack sufficient rooms; just look, it is very cramped and small,” he remarked.
The construction of the new building at the Palace has been questioned by the Green Party of Indonesia, a political party that advocates for environmental issues. The National Presidium of the Green Party of Indonesia, John Muhammad, stated that the construction is suspected of violating the Cultural Heritage Act.
Based on satellite imagery, John noted that the area being developed was previously a wooded area. The appearance has shifted to a construction site since at least mid-2025. The construction point is located in the eastern courtyard of the Istana Merdeka building.
John, who is an architect by profession, suspects that the construction may not have met the necessary requirements. These requirements include feasibility studies, recommendations from cultural heritage expert teams, public transparency, and integrated supervision.
All such processes should be known to the public. “Up to this point, there has been no information provided to the public. Without meeting these requirements, the construction could be subject to penalties,” said John on Thursday, 2 July 2026. Under the Cultural Heritage Act, such penalties include imprisonment for up to 15 years and fines of up to Rp 5 billion.
John mentioned that construction in the Palace area should involve the House of Representatives (DPR), the Regional Representative Council (DPD), and the People’s Consultative Assembly (MPR). He added that the Regional House of Representatives (DPRD) and the Governor of Jakarta should also provide recommendations and approval for construction within the Palace area.