Illegal Houses Along Senen Railway Tracks Demolished, Residents Prepared for Relocation to Flats

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com – Several residents along the railway tracks at Pasar Gaplok Market, Kramat Ward, Senen Subdistrict, Central Jakarta, whose homes were demolished, claim they were surveyed by the DKI Jakarta Social Services (Dinsos) on Friday afternoon (27/3/2026). Syukuri (47), one of the community leaders at the site, said that officials asked residents to show their identity documents, namely the Identity Card (KTP) and Family Card (KK), which were then photographed for data collection purposes before being moved to flats. Syukuri had heard news that the Central Jakarta Mayor, Arifin, visited the site on Friday morning. Nevertheless, she felt relieved by the survey and hoped to soon get the opportunity to move to the flats. “Any flats would do if I may. If it’s near here as per the President’s promise, we would very much like that,” said Syukuri. Another resident, Seger (43), overheard the conversation between President Prabowo Subianto and the residents during his visit on Thursday. The President offered flats as a housing solution for residents living along the railway embankment. “The President himself said, ‘Do you want flats to be built for you?’ ‘Yes, Sir, we want that,’ we replied. After that, the President said that officials would come later,” explained Seger. Seger also claimed to have received an Eid bonus from the President through his security detail. “He said the President wanted to share blessings with the mothers and fathers here. Of course, we were very happy. It can be used for daily meals, to give to my grandchildren,” he said. When asked if the money was intended for paying rent or boarding house fees, Seger emphasised that there was no such specific message. The money was simply given as an Eid bonus. Seger explained that the Eid bonus money could actually be used to pay for house rent or boarding house fees.