Another reclamation project has come under the spotlight following the arrest of Riau Islands Governor Nurdin Basirun by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) on allegations of bribery.

The antigraft body named the governor a suspect on Thursday over allegations that he accepted bribes and unlawful gifts during deliberation of the province’s zoning plan on coastal areas and small islands. The plan is to become the basis for the provincial administration’s maritime development.

Apart from Nurdin, the KPK also named Riau Islands Maritime Affairs Agency head Edy Sofyan and agency official Budi Hartono suspects for allegedly accepting bribes. Meanwhile, businessman Abu Bakar was named a suspect for allegedly handing out money.

In May, Abu Bakar filed a request for a reclamation project at Tanjung Piayu in Batam that would later be used as a resort and tourist area, even though the site was previously reserved for land cultivation and a protected forest. Nurdin later ordered Budi and Edy to assist Abu Bakar in getting the necessary permits.

“BUH [Budi] told ABK [Abu Bakar] to request permits to build a restaurant equipped with fish cages within it so that the restaurant would be seen as an aquaculture facility,” KPK deputy chairwoman Basaria Panjaitan said on Thursday evening.

Edy later completed a permit document by copying data from other regions without conducting the necessary studies.

Nurdin allegedly accepted a total of Rp 665 million (US$47,100) in different currencies, including Singaporean dollars and US dollars.

Graft busters apprehended the suspects during an operation in Riau Islands on Wednesday.

“During the investigation, [the suspects] testified that the corruption was committed to lure investment into the region. Investment should be done without corruption and destroying the environment,” Basaria said.

Land reclamation has become a source of debate and criticism recently. A number of administrations in coastal areas initiated projects to build artificial islets for commercial purposes, which, as environmentalists argue, is a threat to the ecosystem.

Land reclamation is often blamed as the main cause of rampant coastal erosion at beaches across the country.

According to a study from the Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Ministry, the country loses around 1,950 hectares of coastal area annually due to erosion, while only gaining around 895 ha from coastal sedimentation. In the last 15 years, the country has lost 29,261 ha of coastal area.

Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI) oceanography researcher Wahyu Budi Setiawan said any significant human-made changes to coastal areas could result in beach erosion. Artificial structures would affect the circulation of water and sedimentation in coastal areas.

According to data from the People’s Coalition for Fisheries Justice (Kiara), there are at least 41 reclamation projects, resulting in the development of 79,348 ha of new coastal land.

The data further show that at least four reclamation projects are currently in progress in Riau Islands, covering about 762 ha of land. Meanwhile, other claims suggest the total area of new artificial land is greater than 15,000 ha.

Kiara secretary-general Susan Herawati said the graft allegations in Riau Islands should be a wake-up call on the potential corruption surrounding reclamation projects and the deliberation of zoning plans for coastal areas and islets.

“The weak monitoring mechanism could be used by corporations to push for more reclamation projects across the country.”

Should regional administrations pass more projects, fisherfolk and those who rely on the sea for a living might lose their main source of livelihood, she said.

The Riau Islands administration’s legal bureau head, Heri Mokhrizal, said the administration would not provide the governor with legal assistance. “The regulation restricts us from giving legal assistance to any officials implicated in corruption cases.”

The Riau Islands case is similar to one that implicated Jakarta councillor Sanusi, who held an important role in discussions over the draft North Jakarta Coast zoning plan bill.

The KPK suspected that he accepted bribes from PT Agung Sedayu Group directors in exchange for lowering the developer’s 15 percent contribution clause in a bylaw to only 5 percent.

The Jakarta Corruption Court later found Sanusi guilty and sentenced him to seven years in prison.

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