When KAI Boss Complains About Company Land Being Occupied by Community Organisations

President Director of PT Kereta Api Indonesia (Persero), Boby Rasyidin, recently complained about the large amount of company land being controlled by various parties under the guise of community organisations, or ormas. For example, in Jakarta, areas such as Senen to Tanah Abang have seen much land along railway tracks or near stations managed and occupied by certain ormas for decades. This complaint about ormas occupying KAI land emerged during a meeting between KAI management and Minister of Housing and Settlement Areas (PKP) Maruarar Sirait (Ara). In the meeting, Ara initially questioned Boby as to why so much KAI-owned land was left idle, despite its clear legal status as belonging to the state-owned railway company. Ara requested that the idle KAI land be optimised to build housing under the Transit Oriented Development (TOD) concept around train stations. In response to Ara’s question, Boby revealed that KAI land has long been managed or occupied by ormas. Thus, when the state-owned enterprise wishes to use this land, including for housing projects, the company must deal with the ormas. “The problem is that these ormas are currently occupying it illegally. It’s already (legally KAI’s),” said Boby in front of Ara. Hearing the facts presented by the KAI boss, Ara said she would follow up immediately. According to her, the state should not lose to ormas. “It’s guaranteed (the land’s legal status), this means we’re talking about courage, right. Talking about firmness, so just give it to those who are brave, how can the state lose to this kind of thing,” she stated. Ara and KAI also found that much state land is occupied by other parties. She emphasised that the state will reclaim it. “There is a lot of state land occupied by other parties. And we will take control of it back for the interests of the state and the people. Especially low-income communities and also middle and burdened communities. So that we can synergise quickly,” she explained. According to Ara, the land will later be used for people’s housing. Certainly, said Ara, most of the state land occupied by other parties consists of 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 interests of the people and the state must be present. Managing this country requires guts, upholding the truth,” she added.