Jakarta, Aug. 7 -- Deputy Minister of Housing and Settlement Areas (PKP) Fahri Hamzah has urged state housing developer Perumnas to strengthen its role as a national housing offtaker to accelerate housing supply and address the housing backlog.

Speaking at the groundbreaking of the Samesta Alonia subsidized housing tower by Perumnas here on Friday, Hamzah said Perumnas holds a special mandate that differs from other state-owned enterprises (SOEs), as its role goes beyond building houses to also serving as an offtaker.

"Perumnas itself is not an ordinary SOE. It is still a state company, but it is actually mandated not only to build houses but also to serve as a housing offtaker," Hamzah said.

He said the mandate is clearly stated in th...