Jakarta – The government, through the Ministry of Housing and Settlement Areas (PKP), is preparing a program of 100 subsidized housing units with zero down payment for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in several regions. This policy not only provides free down payments, but also exempts beneficiaries from Land and Building Acquisition Duty (BPHTB) and Building Approval Permits (PBG), with mortgage interest rates set at only 5 percent. The initiative has been emphasized as a concrete demonstration of the state’s commitment to expanding access to decent housing while strengthening the foundation of the people’s economy.
Minister of Housing and Settlement Areas Maruarar Sirait stated that the program is designed so that eligible MSME actors can directly benefit from President Prabowo Subianto’s flagship initiatives.
“As Minister of Housing, we are preparing 100 subsidized houses for eligible MSME actors, with free down payment, free BPHTB and PBG, and only 5 percent interest. This is so they can enjoy President Prabowo Subianto’s flagship program, ensuring that access to decent housing is truly felt by all segments of society,” he said.
The statement was delivered during the Harmoni Imlek Nusantara 2026 celebration at Lapangan Banteng, Jakarta. The occasion underscored that cultural celebrations can go hand in hand with strengthening the people’s economy. The Minister, who is commonly known as Ara, noted that the involvement of MSMEs in the event demonstrated that such celebrations are not merely symbolic, but also have a tangible impact on improving the welfare of small business owners.
“This is a very positive event because MSMEs are truly involved. It means that the Lunar New Year celebration has a direct impact on the community, especially MSMEs, enabling them to move up the economic ladder. This aligns with President Prabowo’s vision and mission—economic growth that is equitable and felt by all Indonesians,” he explained.
On the other hand, the government has ensured that the construction and distribution of these subsidized housing units will be strictly monitored and data-driven. In discussions with leaders of the House of Representatives (DPR RI) and the Badan Pusat Statistik (BPS), Minister Ara emphasized the importance of using official state data in formulating policies.
“We discussed the importance of data in channeling assistance and determining housing programs,” Ara said after the meeting. He added, “BPS data serves as our primary foundation in policy formulation so that it is more academic, research-based, and equitable.”
This data-driven approach has received support from the DPR. Deputy Speaker of the DPR RI Saan Mustopa assessed that the use of BPS data is a concrete step to ensure pro-people programs reach their intended beneficiaries.
“These pro-people programs must be on target and uphold the principle of fairness. They must not be biased or detrimental to the public,” he stated.
Similarly, Deputy Speaker Cucun Ahmad Syamsurijal emphasized that the utilization of accurate data would prevent overlap in housing programs. Meanwhile, Deputy Speaker Sari Yuliati noted that a proportional approach based on regional poverty data reflects a genuine commitment to supporting low-income communities.
With a combination of zero down payment facilities, strict data-based oversight, and strengthened budgetary support, the subsidized housing program for MSMEs is expected to become a targeted and sustainable policy model. The government reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring that public housing development is not merely quantitative, but also high-quality and supportive of productive groups that form the backbone of the national economy.
