New governor asked to build more cheap homes

JAKARTA (JP): City governor Surjadi Soedirdja wants the newly elected governor, scheduled to assume office early next month, to continue constructing cheap apartments in and around the city.

"This is one of the most important ongoing programs for low- income residents. We can't afford to build houses because land prices are too high," Surjadi said in a speech while inaugurating the start of the construction of two low-cost apartments in Central Jakarta yesterday.

The outgoing governor, who is widely predicted to become a minister in the next cabinet, said the program should be carried out with the massive promotion of apartments aimed at low-income people.

"My administration has been doing it (promotion campaigns) for the past three years but it's still hard to convince people to live in apartments," he said at the groundbreaking ceremony for Petamburan and Pejompongan Indah apartments. The ceremony for both apartment complexes was held at Pejompongan Indah.

"I still remember that one of the residents here said she agreed with the program but she resisted the idea of living in an apartment," Surjadi said.

That is why, he said, city officials must maintain this program and the promotions.

"So, whoever becomes the next city governor, mayor or other related officials, please don't omit this program from their planning," he said.

Developing low-cost apartments was the only way to raise the little people's dignity, he said.

"It's better for them rather than living in slum areas," said Surjadi.

Among other officials who attended yesterday's ceremony were City Council chairman Edy Waluyo and Central Jakarta Mayor Abdul Kahfi.

The Petamburan apartments will be built on a 23-hectare plot on Jl. Jati Pinggir. The first stage of the project will be the construction of a six-story building with 100 apartments.

The Rp 21.6 billion (US$7.30 million) project is being developed by state-owned housing company Perumnas and is expected to be completed in four years.

The original residents who were evicted from the area at the time were given money to rent houses.

The other project at Pejompongan Indah, previously a low-class red-light district, will be built on a 3.1-hectare plot on Jl. Pejompongan, located next to Benhil II apartments.

Pejompongan Indah will have 16 stories. Twelve stories will be for housing and the rest for commercial use.

Only 4,400 square meters of land have been cleared for the project.

"We are having difficulties in clearing the area of people who live on the edge of railway lines. The relocation plan is slow because the residents asked for more time to collect their belongings," said Mayor Abdul Kahfi.

The Pejompongan Indah developer is city-owned PT Sarana Jaya, which introduced the concept of three-in-one apartments, namely apartment buildings for housing, offices and commercial use.

Governor Surjadi praised the residents of Pejompongan and Petamburan for their willingness to accept the program.

"Thank you for being understanding. I'm very proud of you all, and I hope the project will be completed soon so you can enjoy nice, clean, healthy and beautiful housing," he said. (07)