Ahok to Build More Apartments to Suppress Housing Inflation

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Jakarta Governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama or Ahok announced his plan to build more low cost apartments in a bid to suppress the inflation rate in the housing sector.

“We want to build houses and apartments in Jakarta. Therefore, people who work in Jakarta will live in Jakarta,” Ahok said in Jakarta on Sunday, March 5, 2017.

According to Ahok, Jakarta has the highest inflation rate in the housing sector. The Jakarta administration will work with state-owned house developer Perum Perumnas to build low cost apartments near railways or terminals.

“We want all stations and terminals have apartments above them,” Ahok said.

In addition to building apartments, the Jakarta administration will also work with Aceh entrepreneurs to rehabilitate dormitories for Aceh students in Setiabudi, South Jakarta.

“We’ll discuss it after the election, to avoid prejudice,” Ahok said.

FOBA chairman Ihsan Efendi asserted that Ahok’s visit to the dormitory was not related to the Jakarta Gubernatorial Election. The executive board, Ihsan explained, invited Ahok as the Jakarta governor, instead of a candidate.

“This is a regular occasion to commemorate Maulid Nabi (the birthday of Prophet Muhammad) and is not related to the election,” Ihsan clarified.

Ihsan also dismissed a rumor saying that the occasion would be used as a momentum to declare supports for another Jakarta Gubernatorial candidate Anies Baswedan. However, Ihsan confirmed that Ahok and Anies would come to the occasion.

“We invite all elements,” he said.

However, after Ahok left, Anies had not arrived at the occasion.

“We haven’t received any confirmation that Anies would miss the event,” Ihsan said.

ADITYA BUDIMAN