Title: Indonesian President Joko Widodo Receives Retirement Home from the State
Article:
In a tradition followed for each outgoing president, Indonesia‘s seventh president, Joko Widodo, has been gifted a retirement home by the state. The home, located in Jalan Adi Sucipto, Desa Blulukan, Colomadu, Karanganyar, Jawa Tengah, was chosen by Jokowi himself. This allocation is not only a benefit stipulated in the laws of Indonesia but also a well-established practice for former presidents and vice presidents.
The retirement home benefit is rooted in the Indonesian Constitution, specifically in theLaw Number 7 of 1978, which dicates that a former president or vice president who leaves office honorably is entitled to a suitable residence equipped with facilities and a state-owned vehicle with a driver.
The presidential regulation (Perpres) No. 52 of 2014 further details these benefits, stating that a former president or vice president is entitled to only one residence, regardless of whether they served more than one term.
President Joko Widodo joins a line of predecessors who have received retirement homes. Soeharto received a home in the TMII area, Gus Dur was given land in Kuningan, Megawati received a home in Menteng, and SBY was gifted a home in Setiabudi.
The president’s retirement home spans 12,000 square meters, initially planned to be 9,000 square meters but later expanded. This extension, according to Setya Utama, Secretary of the Ministry of State Secretariat (Kemensetneg), was due toextra land remaining, which was incorporated into the final plan.
The property, valued at around IDR 10-12 million per square meter currently, was purchased with a Rp 5 billion payment for the transfer of land ownership rights. Additionally, the retirement home can be bequeathed to the president’s heirs.
Groundbreaking and Construction Updates
The groundbreaking ceremony for the retirement home took place in July 2024, attended by Jokowi’s family members but not the president himself. The event was private, with local officials not invited. The construction is being carried out by PT Tunas Jaya Sanur, a Bali-based contracting company with a history of high-profile projects.
As of October 2024, the foundation of the residence was completed, with preparations ongoing for the final structure. The home is expected to be ready by December 2024, though it may not be fully completed when Jokowi’s term ends on October 20, 2024.