When Ara Debates with Hercules on Land Control in Tanah Abang

Minister for Housing and Settlement Areas (PKP) Maruarar Sirait (Ara) recently visited a vacant state-owned plot in the Tanah Abang area of Central Jakarta, which has been controlled by community organisations (ormas). During the site inspection, which she posted on her Instagram account, Ara debated with Rosario de Marshall alias Hercules, the General Chairman of Gerakan Rakyat Indonesia Bersatu (GRIB) Jaya. GRIB is known to control several plots in the Tanah Abang area. This state-owned land is intended for developing housing for low-income residents (MBR). “My goal is to build houses for the people here. Not for developers or anything like that,” Ara said when meeting Hercules and several ormas representatives, as quoted on Monday (6/4/2026). In response to Ara’s request, Hercules stated that the land managed by his ormas is indeed state-owned, but its status is HPL (Hak Pengelolaan Lahan). “HPL is for managing the land but not for owning it. If it’s the state’s, I will hand it over today,” said Hercules. Previously at the State Palace, Ara mentioned that many PT KAI lands in Senen to Tanah Abang, Central Jakarta, are controlled by other parties. Ara emphasised that Indonesia is a state of law, so the state must be present. Ara and KAI found that many state lands are controlled by other parties. She stressed that the state will reclaim them. According to Ara, these lands will later be used for people’s housing. Certainly, said Ara, most of these state lands controlled by other parties are railway embankments. “Yes, in many places. In Tanah Abang, the state land is very strategic, in Bandung very strategic, in Medan very strategic. We use it for the people’s and state’s interests, and the state must be present. In managing this country, we must have courage to uphold the truth,” added Ara.