Indonesian Gov't to Investigate Island Sale in Anambas

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Ministry of Home Affairs has formed a team to verify the truth of the sale of an island owned by Anambas Regency, Riau Islands Province on the privateislandonline.com website.

"We will first investigate whether it is true or not," said Minister of Home Affairs Tito Karnavian at his office in Gambir, Central Jakarta, on Tuesday, June 24, 2025.

Tito has sent a team from the Directorate General of Regional Administration or Ditjen Adwil Kemendagri to verify the truth of the island sale issue. According to him, the ministry cannot take action without ensuring the facts on the ground.

"I have formed a team from the Ditjen Adwil to check the information available online," he said.

Tito mentioned that they will involve various stakeholders to delve into this issue, including the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, the Ministry of Communication and Digital, and the Hydro-Oceanography Center of the Indonesian Navy.

He stated that the government will only act after receiving confirmation. "We need to check whether it is true or not first. If it is confirmed, we will take enforcement action in accordance with the existing regulations. If it is not true, then we will convey it," said the former chief of the Indonesian National Police.

Deputy Minister of Home Affairs Bima Arya Sugiarto previously stated that no island in Indonesia can be fully owned by individuals. "Basically, no island can be completely owned privately," Bima said in Jatinangor, West Java, on Monday, June 23, 2025 as quoted by Antara.

According to Bima, the privatization limit for islands in Indonesia is a maximum of 70 percent. Bima stated that island land can be leased, but cannot be sold entirely because it violates the rules.

"The island or land can be leased, but there are rules, as I mentioned earlier, the proportion of it, cannot be entirely," said Bima.

The Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries previously asserted that there is no regulation in Indonesia that allows the sale of islands.

This statement was conveyed by the Special Staff of the Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries for Public Relations and Public Communication, Doni Ismanto, through the official social media account of the KKP on Instagram.

The four islands are Pulau Rintan, Pulau Tekongsendok, Pulau Lakok, and Pulau Mala. "I want to clarify the issue of the sale of four islands in Anambas Regency, Riau Islands Province, through a private online site based in Canada," said Doni, quoted from Tempo, on Wednesday, June 18, 2025.

Doni emphasized that there is no regulation in Indonesia that allows the sale and purchase of islands.

"The government provides full protection for small islands, especially related to national sovereignty. Our regulations more on the management and utilization of small islands, including land ownership, share transfer, and investment," he said.

Yogi Eka Sahputra contributed to the writing of this article.

Editor's Choice: Indonesia's KKP Clarifies Status of 4 Anambas Islets Listed for Sale Online

Click here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google New

Indonesia's Small Islands Not for Individual or Foreign Ownership, Says Minister

1 hari lalu

Indonesia's KKP Clarifies Status of 4 Anambas Islets Listed for Sale Online

5 hari lalu

Prabowo Declares Four Disputed Islands as Part of Aceh

7 hari lalu

Former VP Jusuf Kalla: Four Disputed Islands Belong to Aceh, Legally and Historically

9 hari lalu

Prabowo Takes Over Aceh-North Sumatra Island Dispute, Decision to Be Made Next Week

9 hari lalu

Minister Tito Karnavian Slammed for Aceh-North Sumatra Dispute Over 4 Islands

10 hari lalu

Muhammadiyah Urges End to Mining on Vulnerable Small Islands

13 hari lalu

35 Small Islands in Indonesia Threatened by Mining Permits, Jatam Says

13 hari lalu

Former Indonesian Minister Named CEO of Nickel Miner Amid Raja Ampat Controversy

15 hari lalu

Government Urged to Enforce Permanent Mining Ban in Raja Ampat

16 hari lalu