Rakyat Belum Punya Rumah, Miskin? | Kabar Petang tvOne

Summary

Housing Minister Maruarar Sirait proposed treating people without a first home as poor, arguing that poverty measures based mainly on daily calorie consumption do not reflect the hardship of lacking secure housing. He also proposed selling land seized from corruptors at affordable prices to lower-income households. Sirait said he had raised the idea with President Prabowo Subianto for possible inclusion in a national housing program. These were proposals, not adopted policies.

The guests said the proposal to redefine poverty was premature and would require substantial consultation with the World Bank, Statistics Indonesia (BPS), planning bodies, and other government stakeholders. They cautioned that not everyone without a home is necessarily poor: some city residents rent by choice or to live close to work. They also warned that a broader poverty definition should not distract from addressing the estimated housing backlog of about 9.9 million households or meeting the government’s target of building 3 million homes a year.

The discussion emphasized the need for reliable data and a detailed roadmap covering where homes are needed, who should qualify, what standards make a home adequate, and how the program would be funded. Guests questioned whether the current budget and available land could support the target, and noted that rules for using confiscated land may need to be established.

They suggested combining central and local government budgets with other sources, such as company contributions and community or cooperative housing initiatives. They also called for safeguards to prevent subsidized homes from going to people who do not need them.

Presenters and Contributors

• Public-policy expert Prof. Didin Muhafidin
• DPR Commission V Deputy Chair Saiful Huda
• Housing and Settlement Areas Minister Maruarar Sirait, whose statements were featured in the report

The presenter names are unclear in the subtitles.