Indonesian Traditional Fishermen Association (KNTI) head Marthin Hadiwinata questioned the permits as they did not adhere to a bylaw regulating zoning on Jakarta’s coastal areas.

“For an IMB to be issued, there needs to be clarity on the functions of the building. It must go in accordance with the spatial planning. In the case of the reclaimed islets, the IMBs were issued without spatial plans, which is basically illegal as construction taking place on coastlines and islands must adhere to the Jakarta Zoning Plan and Coastal Northern Territories [RZWP3K] bylaw,” Marthin said recently.

The KNTI is an NGO grouped under the Save Jakarta Bay Coalition, which demanded that all completed buildings on islet C and D with questionable permits to be dismantled, he added.

Jakarta Legal Aid Institute (LBH Jakarta) public attorney Ayu Eza Tiara said Anies’ decision to issue the permits contradicted with his campaign promises during the 2017 Jakarta gubernatorial election. Since then, Anies has projected himself as an opponent of the reclamation projects.

“The administration should have made it clear to the public what the reclaimed assets were going to be allocated for. Until today, he has not made it,” she said.

Ayu added that, instead, the governor’s decision to refer to a 2016 gubernatorial regulation on urban development guidelines on reclaimed islets allowed the continuation of construction on Pantai Kita (previously islet C) and Pantai Maju (previously islet D).

She argued that the regulation should not be referred to as a zoning plan because a zoning plan should involve the community’s aspirations, which should be included in administrative regulations that involve the City Council, not just the governor and his administration

“The administration skipped the administrative process, which includes a mandatory environment impact analysis [AMDAL] and environmental permit documents,” said Ayu.

Anies has defended his decision, claiming that the permits were part of a cooperation agreement the city had with developer PT Kapuk Naga Indah, a subsidiary of property giant Agung Sedayu Group. He added that the developer had fulfilled its obligations, which include paying fines for violating the administrative process of acquiring a permit.

“Everything is in accordance with regulations. The administration’s duty is to make sure that the regulations are upheld,” he said, adding that he welcomed any protests against his decision.

The Coalition took their protest to the streets of Central Jakarta on Monday by walking backwards from the Arjuna
Wiwaha statue in Gambir to City Hall while carrying posters opposing the reclamation project.

The act symbolizes Anies’ backpedaling from his initial stance on the issue.

Meanwhile, NasDem councillor Bestari Barus said his faction was still waiting for other parties in the City Council to agree on launching an inquiry against the city administration’s move to issue the building permits.

“We need to know if the location [of the buildings] are in accordance with the zoning map,” he said on Monday, adding that council was ready to deliberate the stalled Jakarta Zoning Plan and Coastal Northern Territories [RZWP3K] bylaw with the city administration.

He pointed out that the 2014 Law on the management of coastal areas and small islands mandated that before the administration utilized the area, the bylaw must first be endorsed as guidelines for the zone. (bry/sau)

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