Sandiaga Responds to Criticism against Zero DP Housing Program

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Jakarta Deputy Governor Sandiaga Uno recently responded to criticism from Indonesia Corruption Watch (ICW) which stated that the zero percent down-payment-housing program lacked in-depth studies.

“Thank you for the input. We have studied the program for a long time, roughly since January 2016,” said Sandiaga Uno at City Hall on Thursday, March 1.

Previously, ICW research coordinator Firdaus Ilyas questioned the seriousness of the Jakarta administration upon introducing the program and also argues that the concept has not been developed well enough.

Read: Expert Compares Zero DP Housing Program with Ahok`s Flats

The reason behind Firdaus’ criticism is that Jakarta’s administration seems to lack of a long-term plan and any mature study on the feasibility of public services.

The zero percent down-payment-housing program is one of the most anticipated campaign promises from Anies Baswedan and Sandiaga Uno. Both men pledged to provide a cheap saving-based housing loan for Jakarta residents with lower-to-middle income.

Anies-Sandi explained that the down payment paid to the bank will be subsidized by the city administration.

However, Bank Indonesia (BI) advised the current Jakarta administration to be more cautious in running that program and suggested the Anies Baswedan administration to strengthen its legal aspect and take notice of central bank’s macroprudential policies.

Budiarti Utami Putri