Sita W. Dewi, Jakarta – Deputy Governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama has removed the official in charge of Marunda low-cost apartments in North Jakarta as ex-Pluit Dam squatters, made homeless in the floods, began relocating.
In the administration's first tough move to clean up bureaucracy, Ahok announced on Wednesday that he had uncovered brokerage and subleasing practices that made it difficult for squatters to move into the refurbished apartment complex.
"It has been said that nobody wants to move into the apartments. Actually, lots of them want to but have been denied. We have reports from residents and we ran checks," Ahok said at his office.
"This man has been disrupting our efforts to move the squatters into the apartments so it is time for him to leave." Ahok was referring to Kusnindar, head of apartment area I technical operations unit with the housing agency.
The agency has appointed Jati Waluyo to replace Kusnindar. Kusnindar's next assignment remains undisclosed.
The administration has collaborated with relevant agencies to promote a healthy lifestyle among residents. "They will start learning how to live in a clean area as we relocate them to the apartments," he said.
The buildings meant for Jakarta's low-income households, most of which were built between 2007 and 2009, have been neglected for years. Jakarta Governor Joko "Jokowi" Widodo blamed mismanagement for the vacant units.
"What was needed was proper promotion for the complex," Jokowi told reporters at City Hall on Wednesday. "Once the deputy governor provided buses and took the squatters on a tour of the apartments, they became interested in moving in."
The administration will prioritize flood victims and residents affected by the city's projects, he said. Jokowi blamed a lack of supporting facilities as a factor that might have made people reluctant to live there.
"Who wants to live in an area where there's no health center, no market, and no buses to connect them to other places? But the situation has improved. Even I want to live there now," he said.
Ahok lured the squatters by promising to give the first few families furniture, a TV and staple food. Ahok also provided free buses for the families who agreed to move in.
According to Jakarta Housing and Building Agency chief Novizal, 10 out of the 15 apartment blocks owned by the administration, with 100 units each, were inhabited as of Tuesday.
There are 26 blocks in total at the complex. The remaining 11 are owned by the central government. Each unit is subsidized and rented for between Rp 150,000 (US$15.50) and Rp 200,000 per month.
Novizal said the agency was still renovating the administration's 500 remaining units. "500 units have yet to be connected to electricity and water," he said, declining to specify a deadline for the work to be completed.
Meanwhile, the administration is restoring the 80-hectare Pluit Dam, which has silted up to a depth of only 3 meters from an initial 10 meters.
"The Sanitation Agency will handle the process. Hopefully, it will be completed by October," he said. The administration will spend Rp 2 billion on the work.