Heaptalk, Bekasi Regency – In a bid to provide decent housing for media workers, the Minister of Housing and Settlement Areas (PKP), Maruarar Sirait, alongside Minister of Communication and Digital Affairs Meutya Viada Hafid, symbolically handed over subsidized housing keys to journalists at the Gran Harmoni Cibitung housing complex in Bekasi Regency, West Java, on Tuesday (May 6, 2025).
The initiative, which forms part of a broader affordable housing program for low- and middle-income citizens, saw 83 journalists receive homes across multiple regions. Five journalists received their keys in person during the ceremony in Bekasi, while the others were distributed through regional Bank BTN offices in Medan, Palembang, Makassar, Manado and Yogyakarta.
Speaking at the agenda, Minister Maruarar emphasized that journalists have the same right to homeownership as other citizens, and highlighted the importance of providing adequate housing to support their role in society.
“Today, we are delivering keys to subsidized homes for journalists. This is not a handout, but a recognition that they too deserve quality, affordable housing,” said Maruarar. “They are essential in delivering truthful information to the public, and this initiative is a reflection of the government’s support for their welfare.”
He also praised Minister Meutya for her initiative and concern toward the housing needs of journalists. “They are fortunate to have a Minister of Communication who used to be a journalist and understands their struggles,” he added, noting that the homes developed by Vista Land Group were of good quality and built responsibly.
Minister Meutya expressed her full support for the program, pointing out that a significant number of journalists still lacked access to adequate housing.
“Out of approximately 100,000 journalists in Indonesia, an estimated 70 percent do not yet own proper homes,” she said. “This program gives them the opportunity to secure stable living conditions.”
Minister Maruarar also noted that the government plans to allocate a total of 2,000 subsidized homes for journalists across the country, and expressed his willingness to expand the quota to 3,000 units if demand increases.
The housing initiative is part of the government’s larger commitment under President Prabowo Subianto’s target to build 3 million homes nationwide, aiming to boost the economy by up to 8 percent. The PKP Ministry, in collaboration with BP Tapera, aims to increase the national quota of subsidized homes from 220,000 to 350,000 units by the end of this year.
Additionally, reforms such as the waiver of building permits (PBG) and land and building acquisition duty (BPHTB), alongside streamlined application processes, are expected to ease homeownership for low-income communities.
“We need innovation in the housing sector to address the current challenges. I’ve learned from President Prabowo to never give up and keep pushing forward,” said Maruarar.
He also called on journalists to help spread accurate information about the government’s housing financing scheme (KPR FLPP), to ensure that more people are aware of the accessible pathways to homeownership.
