Heaptalk, Jakarta – Minister of Public Housing and Settlement Areas (PKP) Maruarar Sirait on Thursday (04/17) handed over 30 floating houses and an ambulance to residents of Muara Angke, North Jakarta, as part of a corporate social responsibility (CSR) carried out by coal companies PT Harum Energy and PT Santan Batubara.
The assistance, valued at Rp 4.8 billion (approximately US$300,000), supports the government’s Three Million Houses program, aimed at addressing inadequate housing across the country. Each floating house was built at a cost of Rp 150 million, while the donated ambulance was valued at Rp 300 million.
Speaking during the handover ceremony, Minister Maruarar lauded the private sector’s participation in supporting public welfare and called on more businesses to follow suit.
“PT Harum Energy has shown extraordinary commitment by partnering with the ministry to distribute their CSR funds directly to the people. This is an example of gotong royong—Indonesia’s spirit of mutual cooperation,” he said.
The 30 houses were distributed to families living in RT 06 and RT 07 in RW 022 of Pluit subdistrict, Penjaringan district. The symbolic handover was conducted at the Patriot Children’s Playground in Muara Angke, with representatives from the Defense University (Unhan) also present. Unhan Rector Lt. Gen. (Ret.) Jonni Mahroza presented certificates of appreciation to the contributing companies.
The initiative is part of a broader program initiated by President Prabowo Subianto during his tenure as defense minister, when he personally funded the construction of 200 floating houses for coastal communities.
“This is the new Indonesia,” Maruarar added, “Those who are successful must help those in need. We are continuing the work started by President Prabowo, and today Mr. Laurence Barki from PT Harum Energy is stepping up with 30 more homes.”
In addition to the handover, the minister inspected one of the new homes and met with residents, including 68-year-old Ramlah, who expressed her gratitude.
“I never thought I’d live in a proper home like this,” she said. “I used to peel shellfish for a living and barely earned Rp 30,000 a day. This new home has given me dignity.”
To support the local economy, Maruarar also purchased 200 packages of salted fish processed by local fishermen, worth a total of Rp 100 million. The fish was distributed to ministry staff, media workers and sanitation personnel.
“We must support local products and reduce dependency on foreign goods,” the minister said, “National resilience must come from the strength of our own people.”
Following the success of the Muara Angke initiative, the ministry plans to expand the floating house program to other coastal regions, starting with Subang, West Java.
