Urbanisation and High Land Prices Seen as Triggers of Slum Areas in Jakarta

Jakarta – Urban planning analyst Bakti Setiawan regards urbanisation and the high price of land as the main factors behind the emergence of slum areas in Jakarta. He said that the flow of people moving to Jakarta continues every year, while land and housing prices in the capital are becoming increasingly expensive. As a result, many residents end up living in densely populated neighbourhoods with poor environmental conditions. “Urbanisation and the high price of land are the causes of the emergence of slum areas in Jakarta,” Bakti said when contacted by Kompas.com, on Tuesday (19 May 2026). He noted that tackling slum areas must be done comprehensively, including paying attention to the social and economic conditions of residents. “The basic aspects are important, but do not forget the other dimensions, namely human, social, and economic,” he said. He assessed that many kampung development programmes focus only on physical improvements, so the results do not last long. In fact, areas that have been developed can become slum again if not accompanied by strengthening residents’ economy and ongoing supervision. “Because they tend to only address the physical aspects, sustainability is not guaranteed,” he said. According to Bakti, community involvement is also an important factor in the success of slum area development. He said residents must be involved from the start so that programmes implemented can endure in the long term. “Both are essential, but residents must take the initiative at the outset and be fully involved,” he said. “Close collaboration with residents, link slum housing programmes to broader urban development, open up residents’ economic opportunities,” he said.