The Director General of Marine and Fisheries Resources Oversight, Pung Nugroho Saksono, stated that the step was taken because PT SDR violated regulations by establishing a business over water and utilizing coastal areas without Sea Space Utilization Conformity Approval (PKKPRL).
"The PKKPRL document is mandatory for any business utilizing sea space," he emphasized on Maratua Island on Friday.
He noted that Maratua is a small island, covering an area of approximately 43.043 square kilometers.
The resort was constructed with a foreign investment from China, yet it lacks the necessary PKKPRL documentation, he added.
According to him, there are currently 16 resorts on Maratua, all of which have met licensing requirements except for the one owned by PT SDR.
He further explained that the resort's violations constitute illegal activity, emphasizing that the authorities will impose strict sanctions.
"We will not tolerate such violations. We have raised the Red and White flag to reaffirm that these islands are a legitimate part of the Republic of Indonesia," he asserted.
According to him, these law enforcement efforts are also supported by the community through local environmental surveillance groups.
Saksono urged PT SDR to immediately complete all required permits. Otherwise, the ministry will not hesitate to dismantle the illegally constructed facilities.
"This is not just a warning; it is a full shutdown. This means all business activities at the site must cease completely. We have handled cases like this many times," he stressed.
Meanwhile, the manager of PT SDR, Toni, stated that the company has been operating at the resort since last year.
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Translator: Susylo Asmalyah, Raka Adji
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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