By: Dhita Karuniawati )*
The provision of affordable housing has become one of the strategic issues in national development. Amid continuous population growth and accelerating urbanization, the need for decent housing is becoming increasingly urgent, particularly for low-income communities (MBR). Inequality in access to housing not only affects citizens’ quality of life but also impacts productivity, public health, and social stability. Therefore, strengthening affordable housing policies, including the development of subsidized apartment blocks (rusun), has become a key priority in advancing social justice.
Subsidized rusun serve as an efficient and affordable vertical housing alternative. This concept is designed to maximize land use, especially in major cities facing high population density pressures. Through subsidy schemes, rental rates or installment payments become more affordable for informal sector workers, laborers, honorary teachers, healthcare workers, and other vulnerable groups.
Minister of Housing and Settlement Areas Maruarar Sirait (Ara) stated that in 2026, the ministry’s priority program focuses on the construction of subsidized apartment blocks as a solution to limited residential land, particularly in urban and industrial areas.
According to Ara, one of the priority programs currently underway is the development of subsidized rusun in Meikarta, Bekasi Regency, West Java. The project is designed as a model for affordable vertical housing integrated with industrial zones, addressing the high demand for worker housing while reducing living costs. Ara emphasized that the housing sector plays an important role in strengthening national resilience while driving sustainable economic growth.
The provision of decent and affordable housing is seen as a fundamental pillar for social stability and improved productivity. Regulations related to subsidized rusun are currently being refined by the government and relevant stakeholders to ensure that implementation targets are achieved effectively and fairly. These regulatory frameworks are being developed with consideration for three main interests: the public, the state, and the business sector.
Meanwhile, the Komisi Pemberantasan Korupsi (KPK) confirmed that the land and apartment units in the Meikarta project designated for the subsidized housing program are legally clean.
KPK Deputy Chair Johanis Tanak explained that although the Meikarta project had been linked to a bribery case involving permit approvals in 2018, the legal case concerned bribery of officials—not the apartment units themselves. During the law enforcement process, the KPK confiscated assets and illicit funds from private parties, not residential units.
According to Tanak, the legal status of the Meikarta project is clear and it can be utilized for subsidized housing. This clarification reflects KPK’s accountability to ensure that law enforcement does not hinder the productive use of assets for the broader public interest.
The KPK emphasized that legal certainty is a crucial prerequisite to ensure that strategic government policies are not stalled due to concerns over future legal risks. However, the KPK also reminded the Ministry of Housing not to stop at a memorandum of understanding (MoU). Cooperation with developers must be formalized in detailed, binding agreements.
Responding to the KPK’s statement, Minister Maruarar Sirait expressed appreciation. He stated that legal certainty provides reassurance for the ministry to execute President Prabowo Subianto’s directive to accelerate the provision of decent housing for low-income communities (MBR).
Ara explained that the subsidized rusun development will maintain both quality and affordability. PT Lippo Cikarang, as the developer, will build the project with government support, including the Housing Financing Liquidity Facility (FLPP) and exemptions from the Land and Building Rights Acquisition Duty (BPHTB).
Beyond construction quality, Maruarar stressed the importance of ensuring that subsidized housing programs are accurately targeted. The government has noted that some subsidized housing units remain unoccupied due to weak commitment from certain developers. To address this, the government is preparing a reward and punishment mechanism to ensure accountability in program implementation.
Social justice in the context of affordable housing means ensuring that no segment of society is excluded from access to decent shelter. Subsidized rusun serve as a tangible instrument to reduce disparities between high- and low-income groups in accessing urban space. When workers with limited incomes can live close to economic activity centers, transportation costs decrease, commuting time is reduced, and productivity increases.
Commitment to subsidized rusun development must be sustained as part of the broader national development strategy. Careful planning, sustainable financing, and strict oversight will ensure that this program becomes a genuine solution rather than merely a physical project. Community participation in maintaining and caring for housing units is also essential to ensure long-term benefits.
Affordable housing is not merely a basic need, but a foundation for building a just and prosperous society. When every citizen has access to decent housing, opportunities to improve education, health, and economic conditions expand significantly. Subsidized rusun stand as a symbol of the state’s commitment to supporting low-income communities and a concrete manifestation of efforts to realize social justice amid ongoing development dynamics.
*) The author is a Contributor to the Indonesian Strategic Information Studies Institute