The letter was sent by the ministry’s Directorate General of Marine Spatial Management in response to reports of the online listing of the islands, in violation of Indonesian law.
This was confirmed by the ministry’s director general of marine spatial management, Koswara, during a discussion with the media in Jakarta on Monday.
In response to reports of the online listing of four small uninhabited islands—Ritan, Tokongsendok, Nakok, and Mala—in Anambas, he emphasized that if the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries’ warning against the online listing goes unheeded, it will request that the site be banned.
Related news: No Indonesian island can be fully privately owned: official
The listing describes the islands as an “Island Pair in Anambas, Indonesia.”
The ministry has said that the sale of islands is not allowed under Indonesian law. The state protects small islands because they are vital to the country’s sovereignty.
He explained that no Indonesian island can be controlled entirely by private parties.
Under Law Number 1 of 2014 concerning the Management of Coastal Areas and Small Islands, private land possession in small islands is capped at 70 percent, with the rest of the land remaining under state control.
“Of the 70 percent that can be utilized, business players are required to allocate land for green open spaces,” he informed.
In addition to sending a letter, the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries is also coordinating with the Ministry of Agrarian Affairs and Spatial Planning and law enforcement agencies to check any illegal transactions regarding the utilization of small islands in Indonesia.
Translator: Muhammad Harianto, Raka Adji
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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