Housing Minister Reveals President's Support for Low-Income Communities

Minister of Housing and Settlement Areas (PKP) Maruarar Sirait has revealed President Prabowo Subianto’s support for Low-Income Communities (MBR).

“President Prabowo is the first president to provide free Land and Building Rights Acquisition Duty (BPHTB) to low-income communities, and free Building Approval (PBG). Previously, these were paid, but under President Prabowo’s administration, they are now free. He ordered me to do this just one month into his presidency,” Ara said during the launch of the Financial Information Service System (SLIK) optimisation agenda in Jakarta on Monday.

Furthermore, the President has increased the subsidised housing quota from 228,000 to 350,000 units this year, reduced Bank Indonesia’s (BI) Statutory Reserves (GWM) from 5 percent to 4 percent, and lowered interest rates for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). Support for businesses was also provided by waiving the Government-borne Value Added Tax (PPN DTP).

His ministry contributed to the renovation of 45,000 houses for the poor last year, a figure that has been increased to 400,000 this year. “We have already processed thousands of houses. We renovate, we repair,” he stated.

In Jakarta, President Prabowo has reportedly budgeted for the renovation of 10,300 houses for the poor, a significant increase from just 160 to 170 houses the previous year.

“I have come to this place, the OJK, six times to fight for low-income communities to be given access. Access should not be closed. There have been many pro-people and swift changes at the OJK since it was led by Mrs Kiki (Chairperson of the Board of Commissioners of the Financial Services Authority, Friderica Widyasari Dewi),” the PKP Minister said.

“We know the President wants to take care of the people quickly. Do not create a deep state. A deep state is a bureaucrat who did not participate in the election but wants to dominate and regulate things on their own. It is clear that those who fought in the political election are the politicians who were given the opportunity, vision, mission, and methods to build the nation. There must be no deep state anywhere,” he added.