In utilizing small islands and the surrounding waters, there is a legal aspect that has to be followed, ecological aspect that has to be preserved, and social aspect that must not be abandoned.
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Marine Affairs and Fisheries Ministry (KKP) expressed its readiness to crackdown on violators of the rule on the utilization of small islands and their surrounding waters by entrepreneurs, including those with foreign capital.

"In utilizing small islands and the surrounding waters, there is a legal aspect that has to be followed, ecological aspect that has to be preserved, and social aspect that must not be abandoned," the Ministry's official, Adin Nurawaludin, noted in a written statement here on Saturday.

Nurawaludin highlighted that Law No. 11 of 2020 on Job Creation, specifically Article 18, Paragraph 22, stipulates that the central government's permit is required for the utilization of small islands and the surrounding territory for the purpose of foreign capital investment.

Moreover, this also necessitates compliance with the applicable law pertaining to capital investment.

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To this end, Nurawaludin urged all entrepreneurs, using either domestic or foreign capital, to adhere to this regulation.

In addition to reiterating the importance of permit and resource preservation, the ministry called for the provision of public access for local residents or indigenous groups within the process of using these small islands.

Nurawaludin emphasized that the use of small islands should take into account the aspect of ecological preservation and ensure that the process is not exclusive in addition to offering space for local residents.

Meanwhile, Director of the Ministry's Marine Resources Management Supervision, Halid K. Jusuf, will ensure that his group will take strict action against entrepreneurs found violating the regulation on the use of small islands and the adjoining waters.

This was deemed necessary since small islands, especially those in the outer region, tend to be more vulnerable to destructive acts, he expounded.

He pointed out that this violation can be in the form of administrative penalty wherein revocation of business permit could be one of the repercussions.

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Translator: M Razi Rahman, Fadhli Ruhman
Editor: Suharto
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