Govt provides homes for journalists

JAKARTA: At least 1,000 low-cost houses will soon be built in Tambun, Bekasi, to accommodate journalists.

Officiating at the ground-breaking for the project on Wednesday, Ministry of Settlement and Regional Infrastructure director general of housing, Syarifudin Akil, said the project was part of the government's campaign for a million low-cost homes.

"We have also signed a memorandum of understanding with the Indonesian Journalists Association (PWI) on the construction of housing for journalists in Cibinong and Sawangan, Bogor," he said.

Hundreds of other houses will also be built in Tambun for people who are not journalists.

Chairman of the government-backed PWI, Tarman Azzam, said the project was the first phase of the construction of 8,000 houses for journalists affiliated to the PWI, as well as non-PWI members.

A 36-square-meter house cost about Rp 26 million (US$2,888), with a down payment of Rp 3 million, said Budi Kartika, a director of property developer PT Sinar Indo Jaya. --JP