Jakarta. Housing and Settlements Minister Maruarar Sirait plans to utilize seized lands from the Attorney General’s Office to expedite housing procurement for the public. The newly appointed minister, commonly known as Ara, intends to collaborate with state-owned enterprises (SOEs) to manage unused lands effectively.

"I have coordinated with the Attorney General regarding the many seized lands owned by the state and how they can be utilized," Ara said after his official inauguration by President Prabowo Subianto at the State Palace in Jakarta on Monday.

He added that numerous lands owned by SOEs, such as the Indonesian Railway Company (KAI), could be repurposed for housing.

Previously, Hashim S. Djojohadikusumo, Chairman of the Housing Task Force for President Prabowo Subianto, announced that the administration plans to build 3 million houses annually. This target includes 2 million houses in rural and coastal areas and 1 million units in urban regions.

Ara emphasized the need for a solid legal foundation to establish cross-sector collaboration. "We must build a comprehensive system. First, the legal basis must be robust. We need to create regulations that can integrate all stakeholders to achieve our goals," he asserted.

While he did not provide detailed information on his work program, Ara highlighted that housing for military personnel (TNI) would be one of his priorities. He affirmed that housing development for citizens would also occur in both urban and rural areas.

"We will prioritize housing for TNI personnel and ensure that we develop homes in both villages and cities," he explained.

Furthermore, Ara mentioned his intention to engage the private sector, including developers and entrepreneurs from various fields, in building housing for the public. "By collaborating with all parties, we are confident in achieving our goals, and I encourage private entrepreneurs, developers, and others to join this effort," he concluded.

Maruarar Sirait is one of the 53 ministers appointed in President Prabowo Subianto's Red-and-White Cabinet. He will be accompanied in his duties by Deputy Minister Fahri Hamzah.

Born on December 23, 1969, in Medan, North Sumatra, Ara graduated from the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences at Parahyangan University in Bandung, where he was involved in the Indonesian Christian Student Movement (GMKI). His political journey began in 1999 with the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), leading to multiple key positions within the party. Ara served three terms as a member of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR) from 2004 to 2019 before joining the Gerindra Party in 2024.

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