"Our activities that are visiting Rondo Island, the outermost island in Aceh, and launching the PLBN stamps, are an important part of maintaining the nation's sovereignty," Mahfud remarked here on Thursday.
He said that the nation's sovereignty can be maintained in two ways, namely by preventing marine poaching, illegal entry, security violations, and human trafficking. Building supporting infrastructure can also contribute to protecting the nation's territory.
The second method is developing the ideology of nationalism among citizens living on islands, especially those directly bordering neighboring countries.
"The President has ordered that development (should start) from the outermost regions, and this continues to be increased, one of which we visit Rondo Island today, where infrastructure and facilities will be built," he informed.
Mahfud, who is also the steering chairperson of the National Border Management Agency (BNPP), said that Indonesia has as many as 17,504 islands and 104 of them are uninhabited. These islands will always be kept with the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia (NKRI).
"We have the BNPP to affirm the application of national borders and will move to increase development in each of these areas," he added.
Furthermore, he said that services, economic development, and cooperation must be improved and enabled to build the outermost islands and regions that directly border other countries.
Acting governor of Aceh, Achmad Marzuki, expressed his gratitude for the central government's attention to Rondo Island as the outermost island in Indonesia's westernmost province through the launch of the PLBN stamps.
"The launch of this stamp (series) proves how much the central government pays attention to the outermost islands in Aceh," he remarked.
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Translator: M Ifdhal, Kenzu
Editor: Suharto
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