Jakarta. People’s housing program was high up on the agenda during the meeting between senior Gerindra Party politician Hashim Djojohadikusumo and Chief Infrastructure Minister Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono (AHY) on Thursday.

President Prabowo Subianto has an ambitious goal of building 2 million houses in Indonesian villages each year. The former army general also wants to build 1 million apartment units in cities annually as Indonesia faces a housing backlog. Hashim -- who is also Prabowo’s brother -- admitted to have discussed the people’s housing program during his visit to AHY’s office.

“We discussed important matters like housing, state revenue, and other major projects including the giant sea wall,” Hashim told reporters not long after the talks with AHY.

Read More: Prabowo’s Vision: 3 Million Houses Annually to Alleviate Housing Shortage

Hashim said that the people’s housing program could help create jobs. Physical infrastructure development could also spur ecoomic growth. Hashim added: “The housing sector can help drive the economy just like in China and South Korea.”  

Hashim not long ago revealed that the housing sector made up 14 percent of Indonesia’s gross domestic product (GDP). There are also 27 million houses that are unfit for living as they lack proper access to clean water and electricity, according to Hashim. The government data showed Indonesia still had a housing backlog of 9.9 million houses as of 2023. The housing backlog refers to the gap between the available homes and the number of homes that are needed.