Jakarta (ANTARA News) - House Speaker Marzuki Alie has asked state-owned banks to support the government`s policy on a poor people`s housing financing scheme through a Housing Financing Liquidity Facility (FLPP).

"The housing financing program for poor people is one of the government`s programs to improve the welfare of poor people. This is a praiseworthy program," the House Speaker said here on Monday.

He made the remarks after receiving deputies and staff experts from the minister for people`s housing at the Parliament building.

Marzuki said that state-owned banks, whose operational budgets came from the state budget and the people, should support the government`s program that was aimed to improve the public's well-being.

"Therefore, state banks should support the ministry of people`s housing financing program for the poor," he said.

He expressed regret over the fact that state banks had not yet agreed on supporting the program because they considered the ministry`s proposed seven percent interest rate to be too low.

"State banks should have agreed to the ministry`s proposal even if the interest rate offered was only six percent," Marzuki added.

He said that government banks should not merely seek profits, but should also become part of the government`s program to care for the people.(*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
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