Jakarta Government is committed to always upholding the law. In responding to related news about Petamburan Public Housing (Rusun) residents who reported Jakarta Government to Ombudsman regarding compensation,the government has emphasized that it always obeys and carries out the Court's decision.

Jakarta Government is committed to immediately paying compensation to residents

"It is not true that Jakarta Government is not serious about implementing the Court's decision. Jakarta Government is committed to immediately paying compensation to residents," said Sarjoko, Head of Jakarta Public Housing and Settlement (PRKP) Agency, on Thursday (10/28), as quoted from Jakarta PPID Press Release.

He said the problems occurred in Petamburan Public Housing were not problems related to compensation for the land where public housing was built, but it is related to compensation for house rental cost when public housing was built.

"Initially, residents were given house contract fee for 1 year. But apparently construction lasted for 5 years due to financial condition of Jakarta Government during 1998 monetary crisis," he explained.

Then, the matter was sued in class action to the Court and based on Supreme Court's Decision No. 700/PK/PDT/2014 on May 19, 2015, the Jakarta Government was sentenced to pay compensation. The Court's decision stated that Jakarta Governor, Central Jakarta Mayor, and Jakarta Public Housing Head should pay compensation to 473 residents amounting Rp 4.73 billion.

"The proof of our seriousness in undergoing Court's decision is to directly budget the compensation fund for 2015 fiscal year in Regional Budget of Public Housing Agency. However, this budget cannot be realized because 473 people who are the plaintiffs, most of them no longer live there," he conveyed.

He added that in 2019, Jakarta PRKP Agency held data collection of occupants in Petamburan Public Housing and socialization about provision of compensation according to Supreme Court's Decision No. 700/PK/PDT/2014 on May 19, 2015. This socialization was carried out in Petamburan Public Housing's Mosque Hall.

"But from the data collection and socialization, it was found that most residents who complained no longer lived there. In fact, most of them have also sold their units to other people without making any payment obligation to Jakarta Government," he mentioned.

As the result, Jakarta Government has difficulty in verifying residents who will receive the compensation. Whereas, verification is needed to guarantee the provision of compensation is in accordance with regulation and prevent it from being given to people who are not entitled.