Tito Urges BNPP to Seriously Pursue Housing Programme in Border Areas

Minister of Home Affairs (Mendagri) Muhammad Tito Karnavian, as Head of the National Border Management Agency (BNPP), held a discussion on preparations for the housing programme in border areas with BNPP Secretary Makhruzi Rahman and BNPP officials at the Ministry of Home Affairs (Kemendagri) headquarters in Jakarta on Tuesday (14/4).

In his directives, the Minister urged BNPP officials to utilise the Uninhabitable House Renovation (RTLH) programme initiated by the Ministry of Housing and Human Settlements (PKP), targeting border areas. Tito noted that the Ministry of PKP has budgeted for the renovation of 15,000 RTLH units in border regions.

“This [Minister PKP] Mr Ara has conveyed 15,000, originally 10,000, now increased to 15,000. Then, the task for BNPP, I request, grasp this programme well. Implement it with heart,” said Tito.

To that end, Tito tasked BNPP with mapping border areas suitable for the programme’s implementation, including the number of units in each region. Meanwhile, for detailed data on programme beneficiaries, BNPP can coordinate with the Central Bureau of Statistics (BPS).

He explained that BPS holds detailed data on the social and economic conditions of the population, including those living in RTLH. Thus, the programme’s implementation can be more targeted according to beneficiary criteria.

“Because [BPS] has conducted a survey, the Single National Social and Economic Data (DTSEN),” said Tito.

The Minister is optimistic that the programme will impact the improvement of community welfare in border areas, thereby strengthening nationalism. Thus, they will become the frontline in safeguarding the state’s sovereignty in border regions.

“Nationalism will emerge in them. That [will become] a buffer zone for defence,” concluded the Minister of Home Affairs.