Prabowo Builds New Building in Palace, Fadli Zon Cites Space Shortage

President Prabowo Subianto is constructing a new building in the grounds of the Presidential Palace in Jakarta. Minister of Culture Fadli Zon stated the building is necessary because the palace frequently lacks sufficient space for large-scale events. He noted that the government often has to erect tents for forums at the palace, including cabinet meetings. “We are short of space here for conducting large meetings,” he said when met at the palace on Tuesday, 7 July 2026. The Gerindra Party politician mentioned that the building, currently under construction, could function as a multipurpose hall. However, he said its specific use would be regulated by the Ministry of State Secretariat and the Cabinet Secretariat. He expressed hope that a new building in the palace could serve as a venue for new meetings. “Indeed, we lack rooms, just look, it’s very cramped and small,” he said. Fadli Zon claimed the construction of the new building does not violate Law Number 11 of 2010 on Cultural Heritage. He argued that the building is being erected on vacant land and does not alter the form of the Istana Negara or Istana Merdeka, which are designated as cultural heritage sites. The construction has been questioned by the Indonesian Green Party, a political party that champions environmental issues. The party’s National Presidium member, John Muhammad, stated that the construction is suspected of violating the Cultural Heritage Law. Based on satellite imagery screenshots, John said the area being built on was previously a tree-planted zone. Its appearance has reportedly changed into a construction site since at least mid-2025. The construction point is on the eastern side of the Istana Merdeka grounds. John, who is an architect by profession, suspects the construction has not met the necessary requirements. These requirements include a pre-feasibility study, recommendations from a team of cultural heritage experts, public transparency, and integrated supervision. He insisted that the entire process should be known to the public. “To date, there has been no information provided to the public. Without fulfilling the requirements, this construction can be subject to penalties,” he said on Thursday, 2 July 2026. Under the Cultural Heritage Law, the penalty can be a maximum imprisonment of 15 years and a fine of up to IDR 5 billion. John also mentioned that construction within the palace area must involve the House of Representatives, the Regional Representative Council, and the People’s Consultative Assembly. He added that the Regional People’s Representative Council and the Governor of Jakarta should also provide recommendations and approval for construction in the palace area.