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IHiS (Indonesian Historical Studies) 4 (2), 170-185 © 2020 | E-ISSN: 2579-4213 

Kampung Improvement Program: Obstacles and Implementation in Semarang, 1978-1988   | 170  

Received:  
June 16, 2020 
 
Revised:  
December 9, 2020 
 
Accepted:  
December 9, 2020 

Kampung Improvement Program:  
Obstacles and Implementation in Semarang, 1978-1988  

 
Desi Tri Susilowati*, Yety Rochwulaningsih, Haryono Rinardi 

Master Program of History, Faculty of Humanities, Universitas Diponegoro,  
Semarang, Indonesia 

 
*Corresponding Author: desi.bpdikjur@gmail.com 

DOI: https://doi.org/10.14710/ihis.v4i2.8951 

 
Abstract 

 
This study analyzes Kampung Improvement Program (KIP) implementation and 
its impact on social life in Semarang between 1978-1988 periods. The KIP program 
is considered successful in building and managing slum settlements in Semarang. 
The success of Semarang in implementing this program makes it as a pilot project 
for the arrangement of two cities in Southeast Asia, namely Manila and Bangkok 
in 1987. This study emphasizes the use of government documents and newspapers 
to analyze KIP implementation progress in Semarang in the period of 1978 and 
ended at 1988. The program implementation was divided into two major stages, 
KIP Urban III and KIP Urban V. From KIP program, various physical 
infrastructure to support basic needs, such as toilets, clean water networks, 
sanitation, and road paving have been built. In its development, the KIP 
implementation brings a new face to Semarang towards slum villages, decreases 
the social pathology of the communities, and develops social groups, such as 
empowering Integrated Health Service Port (Posyandu) and Family Welfare 
Program (PKK). KIP Urban III was able to complete the construction of 21 villages, 
while in KIP Urban V there were 35 villages, bringing the total number of 56 
villages developed. 
 
Keywords:  Kampung Improvement Program (KIP); Urban Problems; Slum; 

Settlement. 
 
Introduction 
Urbanization and increased number of population occur in several major cities in 
Indonesia since the beginning of New Order, causing regional governments to be hit 
by a pile of urban problems. The growth of urban homelessness, unemployment, 
squatter huts, slums and poor, metropolitan youth gangsters, increasing crime, and 
crowded public transportation are unavoidable consequences. The government tries 
to solve these urban problems by implementing a strategy, namely National Urban 
Policy according to the needs of each city growing rapidly with a focus on the 
implementation of city building, structuring and development. 

In terms of area arranging, the government makes arrangements for deemed 
slum areas by implementing the Kampung Improvement Program (KIP). It is 
supported by loan funds from the World Bank, the State Budget (APBN), the 
Provincial State Budget, and the Regional Revenue and Expenditure Budget (APBD) 



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in each city/district. KIP I and II were the initial projects held in Jakarta and Surabaya. 
Entering KIP stage III (1978-1988), Semarang became one of the designated target cities 
to implement the kampung improvement program (Semarang Regional Development 
Agencies, 1986, p. 123-127). KIP is then structured in such a way that it is able to 
achieve its ideal targets, for the sake of improving the quality of life for residents of 
urban villages and continuing to KIP stage V. 

The target of KIP implementation are physical and non-physical improvements 
to urban villages which are categorized as slums, densely populated, and lacking 
health, cleanliness and habitability requirements. The aspiration to achieve success in 
building a city into a modern area with complete village facilities, adequate physical 
infrastructure, as well as for its residents to be more productive is slightly hampered 
by social obstacles that arise in its implementation (Simone, 2015). However, from the 
facts, it can be said that the Kampung Improvement Program (KIP) in Semarang which 
was implemented in 1978-1988 has succeeded in arranging and improving the villages, 
road access and bridges, so, they are able to demonstrate the uniqueness of Semarang 
City new face as a modern city, with complete village facilities, adequate physical 
infrastructure, as well as residents who became more productive. 

Several important studies relevant to Semarang City improvement policies are 
written by historians and urban planners, as well as the narratives about KIP in 
Indonesia. The study from Devas (1981) narrates one of the initial pilot projects of a 
kampung improvement program in Indonesia located in Jakarta. This program 
became the forerunner of KIP in various cities in Indonesia afterwards. The villages 
considered to be slum, poor, unorganized, and far from the standards of cleanliness, 
health, and habitability are gradually changed. KIP implementation had been 
considered successful in changing the face of Jakarta’s village. Meanwhile, the Jakarta 
Government had received praise from the international community for being able to 
combine physical improvement with changes in the residents’ behaviour who are 
more concerned with health and environmental hygiene. Another study come from 
Kusno (2012) which has relevance to the long journey of urban planning policies that 
can be a lesson learned for urban policy makers. To make a city demonstrate an 
identity and a happy face for its residents, a city must be built with careful planning 
and coordination in clear and firm direction. The excellence of Kusno’s study lies in 
the narrative at the level of detail city planning about municipalities. He is able to 
pinpoint the mistakes of regional and central leaders who fail to translate the desire of 
their citizens to build a more humane and liveable city. Political policies of the state 
and local governments have indeed become an affirmation of easy improvement 
implementation to coordinate and organize, but the government has abandoned the 
aspirations of its citizens in implementing improvement. 

 
Method 
The first stage was the collection of sources, consisting of primary sources and 
secondary sources. To obtain primary sources, the authors searched related sources, 
those were Suara Merdeka and Wawasan, Prisma, Regional Development Agencies 



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Semarang, Central Java Provincial Library and Archives Service, Semarang Central 
Bureau of Statistics (BPS), and Semarang Public Works Office. The sources obtained 
from Suara Merdeka and Wawasan Archive Center were contemporary newspapers 
which report on the dynamics of KIP Semarang implementation, the obstacles and 
data on the results of program implementation. From the offices of Regional 
Development Agencies and Semarang Central Bureau of Statistics (BPS), the authors 
found reports on the results of 1986 city planning and Kampung Improvement 
Program (KIP) counselling, statistical data for the city of Semarang 1978-1988. In these 
statistical data, there were various reports relating to the population and area of 
Semarang in general.  

In addition to conducting searches to various offices and related agencies, the 
author also interviewed several informants to looking for the experiences during the 
implementation in the communities from the start of its implementation in 1978 to 1988 
in detail. They were senior journalists for Suara Merdeka newspaper, NGO activists, 
Neighbourhood (RT) leaders and residents whose villages had received the KIP 
project. From the results of the interview, the author obtained additional information 
that was not in the written data. Apart from utilizing primary sources, the author also 
utilized secondary data obtained from articles, books, and relevant scientific papers. 
After all the sources had been collected, then criticism was conducted on these sources, 
both external criticism to obtain authentic sources and internal criticism to obtain 
credible sources. The third stage in historical research was interpretation. At this stage, 
accuracy and objective attitude were required, especially in terms of interpretation of 
historical facts. The last stage was historiography. Historiography was the process of 
rewriting historical events which was limited by spatial scope, in this case, Semarang 
City and the temporal scope covered the 1978-1988 period relating to the 
implementation of the KIP program and its influence on social life in society. 
 
The Emerging and Planning of the KIP 
KIP is raised with the aim of improving the conditions of housing environment, slum 
and unsanitary, in the city. So, people can live in a healthier and more comfortable 
housing environment. By implementing this improvement program, it is expected that 
the conditions of houses and village environment where the community live can 
change and have better physical environmental infrastructure. The creation of slum 
environment is inseparable from the problems caused by urbanization, migration, 
population growth which is increasing from year to year (Purwantiasning, 2011, p.54).  

Before the implementation of kampung improvement program, Semarang has 
become a destination for urbanization. It is because Semarang is one of the provincial 
capitals that offers various dreams to change one's destiny and economic level for 
better condition. This urbanization has actually created a poverty problem resulted in 
slum settlements. Those who make a living then lived in villages located near 
economic centers, ports, and industrial areas. The villages turn into slums, unsanitary, 
unorganized, and lacking facilities. One example is Bandarharjo located in North 
Semarang. The port which is a place of economic turnaround has caused people from 



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outside Semarang area to come to this place. Empty land is getting narrower and 
turning into residential houses (Haryono, 2008, p. 64-65). Similar situations can be 
found in areas located along the railroad tracks such as Bulu Lor, Plombokan, 
Purwosari, and Dadapsari. The raised beds are then built as shelter, without adequate 
latrines, and proper sanitation (Kumala and Yusman, 2014, p. 249). 

Bandarharjo, Bulu Lor, Plombokan, Purwosari, and Dadapsari are only small 
examples of emergence of slum settlements in Semarang. There are many other places 
scattered in various parts such as Krobokan, Rejomulyo, Kemijen, Penggaron Kidul, 
Kaligawe, Jabung, and so on. The existence of slum villages is certainly not a good 
assessment for the growth of a city (Aminuddin, 2015). KIP then becomes a program 
that is expected to change the conditions of slum area. There are various methods in 
its implementation. These include: 1) Purchasing clean water as much as possible and 
link it to a Water Company distribution network, with hydrants for four hectares of 
environmental services; 2) Environmental drainage to prevent flooding and secondary 
drainage that follows the existing road and city drainage patterns; 3) Public toilets with 
12 holes for every 3,500 people; 4) Asphalt and concrete roads with a width of 3 meters 
to 8 meters; 5) A walking area of 1.5 m wide made of concrete with drains, should be 
provided at the side of the road; 6) Disposal of garbage with a volume of 12 cubic 
meters, as well as procurement of trucks to transport garbage to landfills (Hamidah, et 
al., 2016, p. 15). 

Under the responsibility of Semarang Mayor, KIP is then implemented by 
Regional Development Agencies with Public Works and Housing as the project 
implementer. Everything that occurs must be reported by the Central Government and 
Regional House of Representatives. Then, the Central Government reports its 
accountability to the World Bank.  

KIP appeared and started at the end of 1978. By the initial target of 27 villages 
located in urban areas. The implementation of KIP certainly requires a very long 
discussion, considering that several villages targeted by KIP are villages with historical 
values, economic potential, cultural roots, and strong religious elements. The survey 
was conducted in 1975 in the targeted villages. These were promotion measures and 
to avoid potential upheavals occurring among citizens (“DPRD Kodya Semarang,” 
1978). The Mayor of Semarang then issued Decree Number 190/WK/1978 on the 
Establishment of Semarang Level II (Municipal) KIP Unit as the legal basis for the 
implementation of this program. 

 
KIP Implementation Dynamics In Semarang 
Public Works Office (DPU) of Semarang is the spearhead of KIP implementation in 
Semarang. This occurs because the initial focus of kampung improvement program is 
to focus on physical improvement. Provision of adequate infrastructure is seen as a 
basic need of an area.  
 
KIP Urban III 



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Semarang Government targeted that for five years from 1979 to 1983 the program was 
going to complete the improvement of 27 villages with a total area of 626.6 hectares 
and a total population of 207,200. Meanwhile, the average population density in the 27 
villages was 331 people per hectare. KIP development was divided into two stages. 

The first stage was focused evenly over a period of three years from 1979-1981 
covering 15 villages, divided into three periods. (1) The years 1979-1980 covered two 
villages with an area of 65.9 hectares and a population of ± 23,600 inhabitants; (2) 1980-
1981 covered four villages with an area of 98 hectares and a total population of ± 35,800 
people; (3) The years 1981-1982 covered nine villages with an area of 154.7 hectares 
and a population of ± 67,000 people. 

The second stage was conducted with a period of two years from 1982-1983 as a 
continuation of the program in the first stage covering 14 villages. (1) 1982-1983 
covered nine villages with an area of 156 hectares with a population of ± 51,800 people; 
(2) 1983-1984 covered five villages with an area of 156 hectares with a population of ± 
28,800 people. 

The improvement of an expansion area on the border of Semarang was a question 
of several parties. Therefore, the government reiterated its policy, that the priority for 
KIP implementation was only conducted in villages according to the results of field 
research that had been outlined by the government and the consultant team. The 
villages, total 27 villages, were located in the urban area of Semarang, while rural areas 
in several border areas of Semarang built with a separate program. This was explained 
by officials of Ministry of Home Affairs, Suwarno during a visit to Semarang City on 
December 24, 1978. The following was a map of KIP Urban III implementation in 
Semarang which was targeting densely populated settlements in the lower part of 
Semarang, as shown in the reconstruction of the KIP map in Figure 1.  

 

Figure 1. Reconstruction of KIP URBAN III in Semarang  
 



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Based on the mapping image of KIP Urban III project area, it can be seen that the 
majority of KIP Urban III implementation in Semarang is still targeting densely 
populated settlements in the lower Semarang area. The implementation of KIP from 
the period 1980-1984 covered 21 villages. In 1979-1980 the implementation only 
covered two villages. The total improved areas were 23 villages. The initial agreement 
between Regional House of Representatives and Semarang Government was for 27 
villages. The number of improved villages in KIP Urban III mostly targeted the Central 
Semarang area with a total of 12 villages improved, followed by West Semarang with 
7 villages, East Semarang with 2 villages, and North Semarang with 1 village. To make 
the KIP as a successful program, the government held a series of promotion 
preparations for the implementation of KIP in several villages in Semarang. The last 
four villages that were in the process of being finalized were Mlatiharjo, Krobokan, 
Kuningan and Karang Kidul. The districts that were the overall target of KIP Urban III 
presented in the Table 1. 
 

Table 1. Data of Districts affected by KIP Urban III Semarang project 
Year No Kampung (Village) Sub-Districts 

1980-1981 1. Mlatiharjo North Semarang 
2. Kuningan West Semarang 
3. Karang Kidul East Semarang 
4. Krobokan (sebagian) West Semarang 

1981-1982 1 Peterongan East Semarang 
2 Jagalan Middle Semarang 
3 Kentangan Middle Semarang 
4 Brumbungan Middle Semarang 
5 Gabahan Middle Semarang 
6 Pandansari Middle Semarang 
7 Karangtengah Middle Semarang 
8 Kembangsari Middle Semarang 
9 Kembangpaes Middle Semarang 
10 Miroto Middle Semarang 
11 Sekayu Middle Semarang 
12 Kranggan Middle Semarang 

1982-1983 1. Krobokan (partially) West Semarang 
2. Karangayu West Semarang 

1983-1984 1. Banjarsari West Semarang 
2. Darat Lasimin West Semarang 
3. Tawang Komplek West Semarang 

Total  21   
Source: Regional Development Agencies of Semarang, 1986. 

 
 



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Some of the ongoing improvement activities were informed in the form of news 
in newspapers. The following is an example of the arrangement of Krobokan which 
has undergone significant changes in the KIP arrangement. This can be seen from the 
results of Suara Merdeka documentation which indictaed the gate entering one of the 
alleys in Krobokan (as it is presented in Figure 2).  

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 

Figure 2. One Alley in Post-KIP Krobokan 
Source: “Hasil perbaikan kampung,” 1980, p. 3. 

KIP Urban V 
Semarang Government continued KIP for the period of 1983 to 1987. This proposal 
was conveyed by the Secretary of Semarang Village Improvement Project 
Implementation Agency (BAPEM PPK) Ir. A. Wasis. In the plan, Semarang City 
needed at least fresh funds to continue the project, worth Rp. 5.6 billion, targeting 33 
villages with an area of 600 hectares and a population of 296 thousand people. For the 
criteria of villages that were targeted by KIP in this project, Wasis gave quite strict 
criteria. These criteria included the age of village which was old and prioritized to have 
existed before the era of Indonesian independence, there were still problems in the 
supply of drinking water, environmental cleanliness, toilets, and other requirements 
according to the needs of a decent life in the village. 

KIP Urban III succeeded in completing 21 villages, while KIP Urban V succeeded 
in completing village improvement as many as 35 villages. Village improvements were 
also adjusted to the Semarang master plan, although it was not comprehensive. There 
were several components fulfilled by executors in this framework, such as the first, the 
construction or repair of roads traversed by people had to include completeness, 
namely channels, culverts, and bridges. Second, construction and repair of roads that 
were traversed by vehicles and their networks. Third, manufacture and repair sewers. 
Fourth, installation of drinking water networks and public taps. Fifth, construction of 
toilets [mandi cuci kakus] and family toilets.  



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KIP Urban V project as a continuation of KIP Urban III was conducted in 
Semarang. The naming that did not follow the numbering order was due to the loan 
process and funding for this national strategic project that had exceeded the financing 
limit for KIP Urban IV project. In addition, the village improvements can only be 
performed again in KIP Urban V because the funds disbursed by the central 
government for KIP Urban IV were not intended for village improvement, but for 
infrastructure development related to increasing human resources from a social and 
economic perspective, such as the construction of schools, flats and small businesses. 
The villages that were the targets of KIP Urban V presented in Table 2. 
 

Table 2. KIP Urban V and Improved Area 
Year No Kampung (Villages) Improved Areas 
1984 1. Banjarsari 8 

2. Mlayu Darat (partial) 7 
3. Darat Lasimin 13 
4. Tawang 7 

1985 1. Panggung 26 
2. Dadapsari 6 
3. Krobokan 23 
4. Celengan 5 
5. Sukolilo 6 
6. Bojong Salaman 21 
7. Purwosari 28 
8. Mlayu Darat (partial) 7 

1986 1. Rejosari (partial) 70 
2. Plombokan 12 
3. Bulu Lor 58 
4. Jomblang 18 

1987 1. Rejosari (partial) 40 
2. Bulustalan 8 
3. Barusari 5 
4. Pendrikan Lor 23 
5. Cabean 16 
6. Demangan 12 
7. Lemah Gempal 15 
8. Bongsari 25 

1988 1. Bangunharjo 8 
2. Kauman 7 
3. Kartoharjo 13 
4. Gandek Puspo 5 
5. Karangturi 17 
6. Karangtempel 38 
7. Sarirejo 22 
8. Pederasan 13 
9. Kebon Agung 7 
10. Taman Harjo 6 
11. Kemijen 5 

Total 35   
Source: Regional Development Agencies of Semarang, 1986. 

 



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The success of this project made Semarang become a pilot project for two cities 
in Southeast Asia, Manila and Bangkok. Another change in the face of another kampung 
(villages) at KIP Urban V was seen in Mlatiharjo Village. Settlements facing Kali 
Banger with conditions prone to flood runoff had received more attention. Residents 
in this village also had difficulty finding open spaces or fields as places for residents 
to gather and perform daily activities. Figure 2 and 3 indicated the conditions in 
Mlatiharjo in 1982. 

 

 
Figure 2. Mlatiharjo Threatened by Floods 

Source: “Terancam banjir banger,” 1982, p. 2. 
 

Figure 3. Gymnastics with Mlatiharjo Residents 
Source: "Senam bersama", 1983, p. 2. 

 
In addition to these activities, Regional Development Agencies of PPK KIP has also 
conducted the arrangement and dismantling of water channels in several villages 
around Tawang Station, starting from Bandarharjo, Petek, Purwosari, Sayangan, and 
Kaliasin. To realize this improvement plan, Semarang Mayor, Imam Soeparto, again 



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had to perform calculations with Semarang House of Representatives to increase the 
amount of improvement loans to the World Bank. In Imam's initial estimation, 
Semarang had to increase the loan amounting to IDR 447.63 million from the total loan 
amount for other improvement programs of IDR 9.091 billion. The total amount of this 
loan has been approved by Semarang Regional Parliament. These additions came after 
Imam consulted with the PT Trans Asia improvement consultancy team, and through 
meetings with the Ministry of Finance, DG Cipta Karya, and the World Bank. It is 
feared that the additional budget became troublesome for the city government, 
because the loan repayments at maturity in the 1989/1990 period was worrying and 
exceeding 15 percent of the limit stipulated by the Minister of Home Affairs. However, 
Imam emphasized that the swelling financing which not be avoided, because it was 
not only related to KIP financing, but also other improvement projects, such as Mrican 
Market and Peterongan Market. In general, the Figure 4 is a map of KIP Urban V 
implementation in Semarang focusing on targeting densely populated settlements in 
the lower Semarang area.  

Figure 4. Map Study Reconstruction of KIP URBAN V in Semarang. 
 

Seeing the urgency of KIP to become so great, the implementation of KIP project 
at this stage received tighter supervision from related parties such as Regional 
Development Agency and Semarang House of Representatives. The possibility of 
fraud had to be minimized because the amount of funds disbursed for the 
implementation of KIP was not a small amount and the funding had consequences for 
returns within a predetermined time. 

The success of KIP project was claimed by Mayor Imam Soeparto to have 
changed the face of Semarang by improving 56 slum villages over a period of ten years. 



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The mayor's statement was conveyed by Assistant II of Regional Secretary, Ir. Tommy 
Sasmito Utomo in his written speech at the opening of Urban Integrated Basic Social 
Service Training (LPSDTP) at Balai Kelurahan Bulu Lor. KIP Urban III succeeded in 
improving 21 villages, while KIP Urban V succeeded in reorganizing 35 villages, so, 
total of 56 villages were successfully improved and arranged. As for the continuation 
of KIP project, to the residents, it will be conducted Tri Bina approach by the Semarang 
Government. The Tri Bina included environmental improvement, human 
improvement, and integrated business improvement. Even though in its 
implementation, the government needed seriousness, because the Mayor of Semarang 
still felt there was a lack of awareness from residents in post-KIP villages to seriously 
maintain maternal and child health, family nutrition, clean water and environmental 
sanitation. 

 
Kip Implementation Obstacles 
Slum villages with high population density are mostly inhabited by people with lower 
education, poor, and familiar with violence. KIP project in Semarang, which targets 
villages with such conditions, certainly does not escape obstacles during its 
implementation. 

Dissatisfaction with the Distribution of Land and Building Certificates 
Obstacles over the distribution of land certificates occurred because communication 
problem between the government and villagers. The residents were aware that the 
house they live in had the status of being an illegal house, so, when KIP was 
implemented in their village they felt threatened and afraid to be evicted. The legal 
force of land and buildings ownership that they did not own, sparked outrage in their 
minds. Therefore, it happened naturally if citizens were suspicious of the government 
for the implementation of first phase of KIP III program, as occurred in Bandarharjo, 
Bugangan and Mlatiharjo. In addition, not less than 1500 residents in 1980 inhabited 
the areas of Kampung Jagalan and Brumbungan in contact with the Nusaputera School 
and the Buddhist Foundation (“Warga Jagalan dan Brumbungan,” 1983). Citizens 
viewed the Semarang Government in this case, as merely simplifying the process of 
implementing KIP, so, it ran smoothly, but did not care about the fate of other residents 
who experienced it, and had not received legalization of land ownership. 

The problem of land ownership disputes in a number of slum villages in 
Semarang became a fundamental problem in village improvement during the 1980-
1990s. Basically, the community strongly agreed if there was an improvement in the 
quality of life and a healthier environment. However, it was acknowledged that in 
practice the government had not actually conducted a comprehensive mapping, so, 
the issue of land disputes became crucial when the KIP program was implemented. 
 
 
 
Citizen Protests and Complaints 



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The lack of socialization and open communication to the public regarding the targets 
for implementing KIP has triggered a misunderstanding between the government and 
residents affected by KIP. Good communication in general took place when all the 
existing elements accumulated opinions and accepted all decisions gracefully. Social 
obstacles faced by the government included problems regarding the provision of clean 
water in Mlatiharjo ("Realisasi Air Bersih KIP,” 1983). 

 Semarang Water Company became the target of residents' anger because the 
clean water channels that were ready to drink were not properly distributed according 
to their designation. In addition, residents protested against Water Company officers 
who came to check the damage and collect the amount of clean water used by the 
residents in the village. 

KIP project that missed Purwosari Perbalan Village for improvement also 
encountered serious problems. Residents filed a protest to the Mayor on the grounds 
that the village was classified as slum, densely populated and often traversed by heavy 
traffic, so, it was a strategic village for Semarang that needed more attention from the 
government. The complexity of this problem was compounded by the traffic of trucks 
carrying materials crossing the area for the construction of Drainage Improvement 
Program (DRIP) and KIP, causing disruption of environmental cleanliness and 
disturbing environmental hygiene. The residents felt that they had not received justice 
from the government, which only made their village a mere crossing point for 
transportation of construction materials (Abdullah et al., 1987).  

Protests after protests by residents had not been reported much, but this problem 
had triggered the unsuccessful implementation of KIP in several villages in Semarang. 
The government even stated in its written remarks that the physical construction that 
had been conducted in 56 villages was successful. However, Semarang Mayor Imam 
Soeparto, S.H., felt that the Mayor of Semarang was still lacking in improving the 
quality of life and behavioral awareness for healthy living in the KIP villages. 
Therefore, improvement volunteers from the lowest level in the social structure were 
invited to participate in assisting and empowering residents in KIP villages. 

 
Impacts of KIP Implementation 
The Arrangement of Kampung  
KIP is an urban improvement fostering project undertaken by the Regional 
Government (Pemda) at the Second Level Region (Dati II) of Semarang. The Regional 
Government Semarang in its implementation is based on a series of observations and 
research on the conditions and situation of villages in Semarang which are conducted 
by Public Works Office (DPU) of Directorate General of Human Settlements in 
collaboration with Clarke Urban System Consultant - BIEC International. These 
institutions then compile a feasibility study as outlined in the Internal Report (English: 
Interim Report) 1 and 2, as well as the Final. In these reports it is decided that the 
Kampung Improvement Program (KIP) would be implemented within a period of five 
years and outlined in the KIP Urban III program from 1979/1980 to 1983/1984, then 
continued at KIP Urban V 1984/1985 to 1988/1989. Dewi Yuliati, who was involved as 



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KIP consultant secretary in Semarang, said that after this project existed, the villages 
looked clean and tidy. 

In KIP Urban III, Semarang Government had targeted that for five years from 
1979 to 1983 they completed the improvement of 27 villages with a total area of 626.6 
hectares and a total population of 207,200 people. Then the results reached 21 villages. 
Semarang Government continued KIP for the period 1983 to 1987 through KIP Urban 
V. In its plan, Semarang at least needed fresh funds to continue the project worth IDR 
5.6 billion with a target of 35 villages with an area of 600 hectares and a population of 
296 thousand people. So, the total villages that had been improved and arranged 
reached 56 villages.  

Meanwhile, as the continuation of KIP project, to the residents, it was conducted 
Tri Bina approach by Semarang Government. Tri Bina included environmental 
improvement, human improvement, and integrated business improvement. Although 
in its implementation, it required the seriousness from government because the Mayor 
still felt that there was still a lack of awareness of residents in post-KIP villages to 
seriously take care of maternal and child health, family nutrition, clean water, and 
environmental sanitation. 
 
Decreasing on the Community’s Diseases 
The implementation of KIP Urban III and KIP Urban V brought many changes to the 
behavior of residents. Symptoms of social pathology appear, indeed, as a result of 
residents’ poverty who inhabited urban slum villages. Many criminal behaviors 
appeared situational, because it was squeezed by the economics problems and needed 
for their children and wives. Situational crimes that often occurred were mugging and 
theft targeting quiet and poorly guarded places, pickpocketing in crowded places and 
entertainment centers in Semarang, and thuggery in several public places such as 
terminals, cinemas, and parking lots in several places, shopping center or 
entertainment center. Residents who were in such urgency did not usually commit the 
situational crime in the area where they lived. The impact of their actions eventually 
led to negative labelling or stigma in villages among Semarang. 

One of the informant also experienced this situation when he introduced himself 
as a Krobokan resident. This inherent bad image made the government also anxious 
and worried, when it distributed aid for poverty alleviation. He was experienced to be 
invited by the Semarang Government regarding the KIP plan to be implemented in 
Krobokan. He said that one RK manager alongside Urban Village (kelurahan) had to be 
socialized and asked repeatedly to ensure that the situation was safe when KIP was 
implemented. As a result, there were no naughty children or young men hanged out 
and being drunken at night. Several youths whom he had visited with RT management 
expressed their shame because they made the village restless. Law enforcement 
officers did not hesitate on several occasions to conduct surprise reviews in Krobokan 
Village in 1983, as seen in the Figure 5. 

 



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Kampung Improvement Program: Obstacles and Implementation in Semarang, 1978-1988   | 183  

 
Figure 5. Babinsa [Village Community Security] and Police Conduct Security Checked  

in Krobokan, Semarang 
Source: “Periksa,”, 1983, p. 2. 

 
Community Social Groups Improvement 
Several social community groups grew with the end of KIP, although these social 
groups had existed long before KIP was implemented. These community social groups 
included Family Welfare Program (PKK) and Integrated Service Post (Posyandu). KIP 
development projects that had also been carried out in dozens of slum villages in 
Semarang City only strengthened the activeness of existing social groups. He still 
remembered the incessant appeals from the government through neighbourhood (RT), 
or Hamlet (RW), and urban village administrators to support improvement.  

The residents of Bandarharjo were grateful that the new village streets had also 
made the Family Welfare Program, who were not active, became active. Children 
Under Five Years Old (Toddler) and mothers group were also united to improve health 
conditions that were lacking, such as children growing stunted and malnourished. The 
residents of Bandarharjo were grateful that the new village streets had also made the 
Family Social Program members, who were not active, became active. In 1982 a 
number of Family Social Program administrators conducted coaching activities for 
housewives of Family Social Welfare members in entrepreneurship. Family Social 
Welfare volunteers conducted visits to entrepreneurship units that had been 
implemented after the KIP program, while handing over stationery assistance for 
underprivileged Family Social Welfare activists. The improvement of the village had 
been able to improve social activities, even strengthening its existence such as Family 
Social Welfare and Integrated Service Post which increasingly had a strong role in 
society, even though the government had initiated them since before KIP was 
implemented.  
 
 



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Kampung Improvement Program: Obstacles and Implementation in Semarang, 1978-1988   | 184  

Conclusion 
KIP is a government program to improve the housing environment in a slum and 
unsanitary city. By implementing this KIP, it is expected that the conditions of the 
houses and the village environment where most of the urban residents live can change 
through the construction of various physical infrastructure to support their basic 
needs. KIP was implemented in Semarang started at 1978 and ended at 1988 in two 
major stages, KIP Urban III and KIP Urban V.  

KIP is a conceptually very good program because it is aimed at improving village 
conditions and creating a healthy, clean, and liveable environment. KIP runs according 
to measured planning, supervision, and implementation and targeted at the slum 
villages in the lower part of Semarang. However, in implementing KIP in Semarang, 
it is inseparable from a number of social obstacles which are sufficient to make the 
village arrangement a little choked up, such as protests due to injustice in 
improvement and community dissatisfaction with the distribution of land certificates. 
Moreover, all KIP percentage in Semarang is successful in achieving the physical 
improvement of village as expected. 

KIP as a project of great value with a loan amounting to billions of rupiah from 
the World Bank is able to provide social influence to the people living in several slum 
villages in Semarang. Semarang KIP is able to bring a new face to Semarang City by 
physically structuring slum villages, decreasing social pathology in society, and 
developing and strengthening social groups, such as Integrated Service Post and 
Family Social Welfare. Semarang Government claims the success of changing the face 
of the city with the improvements among 56 villages. 
 
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