Prayer Bookends Meikarta Talks as Lippo Vows Refunds
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JAKARTA, investortrust.id – A solemn prayer has opened—and another has closed—a face-to-face meeting at Indonesia’s housing ministry, where Minister Maruarar Sirait today brings together Lippo Group patriarch James Riady and dozens of Meikarta apartment buyers, pressing both sides to resolve an eight-year dispute over stalled units and unpaid refunds.
The gathering at the Ministry of Housing and Settlements—locally known as Kementerian Perumahan dan Kawasan Permukiman (PKP)—drew 118 registered buyers and senior Lippo executives, including Chief Executive of Lippo Karawaci Tbk, or LPKR, John Riady. Both sides praised the family-spirit atmosphere: no chants, no raised voices, only the minister’s invocation that “all this is for God’s glory.”
During the session, ministry officials confirmed that 102 verified buyers have demanded refunds totaling Rp 26.85 billion, while data for the remaining 16 must be completed by Monday, June 2, 2025. Minister Sirait ordered that every claim be processed so the full amount can be paid no later than Thursday, July 24, 2025.
James Riady accepted the figure and said Lippo would repay the money in full, adding that he prefers an even faster timetable. “If the minister has already brought us together, how can the matter remain unsolved? The sooner, the better,” he told the room.
Sirait therefore scheduled a review meeting for early June to verify paperwork and transfer progress. The minister also revealed he has held three virtual calls with Riady in the past week to secure Lippo’s commitment, which he said is crucial to protecting the group’s domestic reputation.
The Meikarta project—launched in 2017 with lofty promises of a new satellite city—stalled amid licensing disputes and liquidity strains. Analysts say a clean resolution could help Lippo repair its brand and unlock fresh financing for core businesses, from real estate to hospitals and malls.
Sirait, a first-term minister and former lawmaker known for his activist streak, has made high-profile consumer cases an early hallmark of his tenure. “Government exists to serve fairly,” he told reporters, adding that he “will not hesitate to summon any developer” that leaves home-buyers in limbo.