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Govt told to protest against foreign claim on Riau island

The government needs to issue a diplomatic note to Singapore to protest against a Singaporean company’s claim of ownership and renaming of an island for commercial purposes, a former minister has said

Fadli (The Jakarta Post)
Batam
Thu, June 2, 2016

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Govt told to protest against foreign claim on Riau island

T

he government needs to issue a diplomatic note to Singapore to protest against a Singaporean company’s claim of ownership and renaming of an island for commercial purposes, a former minister has said.

Former maritime affairs and fisheries minister Rohmin Dahuri said the government, through the foreign ministry, should take the issue up with Singapore.

He said Singapore-based developer Funtasy Island Development Pte. Ltd. had made Air Manis Island in Batam an exclusive resort and renamed it.

The developer has issued a map that shows Air Manis Island as sitting in Singapore’s territory with the label “Funtasy Island”, Riau Islands Tourism Office head Guntur Sakti told the Post.

The resort island, though in Indonesian territory, is reportedly only accessible by ferry from Singapore’s HarbourFront.

“If the island is being managed exclusively and been closed to public access then it is a violation of our sovereignty. The foreign minister needs to issue a note of protest to Singapore,” Rohmin said after an economic seminar in Batam on Wednesday.

Law No. 1/2014, Rohmin explained, an amendment to Law No. 27/2007, reaffirms that the management of islands or coastal regions by the private sector must not deny public access, especially for residents.

“Any profits from the management of an island should serve the national interest of Indonesia. If an island being managed is not serving the national interest, the government can revoke the management permit,” he said.

The former minister added that Singaporean developers had committed a grave error by changing the name of the island and making it part of Singapore’s territory.

“The naming of islands, or toponymy, is set by the UN, and it cannot be done arbitrarily,” said Rohmin.

Separately, House of Representatives (DPR) Commission X deputy chair and former Batam deputy mayor for 2000-2004, Asman Abnur, said the issue of Air Manis Island’s management did not come under the authority of the Batam municipality.

“It did not happen during my time. I’d have to study the case first to know how it has ended up like this now,” said Asman.

When contacted, Singaporean chief consul in Batam Gavin Chay declined to comment on the matter as it had been taken over by the Singapore Embassy in Jakarta.

Earlier, Riau Islands provincial administration warned the Singaporean company not to take any action that could lead to a change of ownership of the island.

In response to the rezoning and renaming on the map issued by Funtasy Island, scores of Indonesian Military (TNI) personnel arrived at the exclusive island and installed a number of Indonesian flags.

“We’ve asked for an explanation [for the altered map] from the management. We gave them a warning to not take any actions that could provoke negative perceptions,” said Riau Islands tourism head Guntur.

Air Manis Island, he continued, measured 328 hectares and was managed by two companies, one from Singapore and one from Indonesia, and had been developed as an integrated tourism area and claimed to be the largest eco park in Southeast Asia. The island resort was designed in 1996 and is planned for completion this year.

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