Maruarar Asserts That Land in Tanah Abang Controlled by Hercules Belongs to the State
Minister of Housing and Settlement Areas (PKP) Maruarar Sirait has asserted that the state must not yield to parties claiming ownership of land in Tanah Abang, Central Jakarta.
The land dispute in Tanah Abang emerged after land earmarked for building flats for the public was claimed by the Chairman of the Indonesian United People’s Movement (GRIB), Jaya Rosario de Marshal, alias Hercules, as belonging to heirs named Sulaeman Effendi.
“Land like that in Tanah Abang is clearly a state asset,” emphasised Ara, her familiar nickname, in a video uploaded to her Instagram account, @maruararsirait, on Saturday (18/4/2026).
She stated that the state should not lose to certain mass organisations. Moreover, the disputed land already holds valid legality from PT Kereta Api Indonesia (Persero), a state-owned company.
“We are consistent that this is state land for the interests of the Republic of Indonesia,” said Ara.
“We have held meetings with SOEs, then with Kereta Api and other SOEs, so that state assets can be quickly used for the benefit of the Indonesian people,” stated Maruarar Sirait.
Previously, the camp of GRIB Jaya Chairman Jaya Rosario de Marshal, alias Hercules, expressed their stance regarding the Tanah Abang land dispute.
For information, GRIB Jaya is currently managing the disputed land because it was mandated by the heirs in the name of Sulaiman Effendi.
They claim to hold ownership documents for the land near Tanah Abang Station in the form of Eigendom Verponding number 946 from 1923 in the name of Ilias Rajo Mentari.
Deputy Head of Law and Advocacy for GRIB Jaya and the Heirs, Wilson Collin, revealed that they object to being accused of illegally occupying the land.
“The director (KAI President Director Bobby Rasyidin) also said that the mass organisation is illegally occupying it; this is not occupation because the heirs have reasons,” said Wilson some time ago.
He emphasised that in the Tanah Abang land dispute case, the heirs of Sulaiman Effendi, who hold the Eigendom Verponding, have never once sold the land to PT KAI.
“It has never been released; if it had been released, we would be squatting. Now there is no sales transaction, so how can it be squatting,” said Wilson.