Investment Minister Bahlil Lahadalia, Home Minister Tito Karnavian, Agrarian and Spatial Planning Minister Hadi Tjahjanto and National Police deputy chief Comr. Gen. Agus Andrianto held a closed-door meeting on Sunday in Batam to discuss the fate of the Rempang project, which has been shrouded in uncertainty following two violent protests earlier this month.

The eco-city project, which is expected to attract US$11.5 billion in investment, will turn Rempang into a new special economic zone that will house what will be the world’s second-largest glass-manufacturing factory. But locals strongly oppose the development plan, which forces them to move before the end of the month.

Following the meeting, Bahlil said that the government and security forces currently stationed on the island have agreed to prioritize a “softer” approach.

“Handling the Rempang [eco-city project] must be done in a kinder, softer way that also respects the locals who have lived there for generations,” he said.

Bahlil went on to say that he, along with Muhammad Rudi, who is the head of the Batam Free Trade Zone Authority (BP Batam) – one of the project developers– and Riau Islands Governor Anwar Ahmad, will continue holding weekly meetings to monitor the development of the project.

Bahlil’s visit to the Riau Islands came after President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo instructed him last week to personally sort out what the President claimed to be “miscommunication” among the residents.