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Jokowi’s sea sand export decision to Singapore is humorous
Jokowi realized that the ban of sand exports to Singapore did not mean a lot because it only replaced smuggling, which allegedly involved Navy officers, regional leaders, police officers and politicians.
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Breeze on the bridge: A man jogs along a bridge connecting the reclaimed Maju Island and Jakarta mainland at Pantai Indah Kapuk on June 13, 2019. The island is home to 932 buildings comprising 409 houses, 212 offices and 311 shophouses. (JP/Ricky Yudhistira)
W
hen reading Government Regulation No. 26/2023 on the resumption of sea sand excavation (for Singapore) and listening the defense of two ministers regarding the policy, I burst into laughter because the formulation of the ruling is reminiscent of the New Order practice of using subterfuge to hide business interests of Soeharto’s children and cronies.
Singapore, in need of more land through reclamation, is the world’s largest sea sand importer, while Indonesia is the largest supplier of sea sand. Many Indonesians suspect their neighbor’s reclamation projects aim at annexing parts of their national territory.
President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo issued the regulation on the administration of sea sedimentation products on May 15. However, the policy deals with more than just sea sedimentation. There is a euphemism here.
The regulation lifts the ban on sea sand exports signed by then-president Megawati Soekarnoputri in 2003 and extended by her successor Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) in 2007.
According to the new regulation, sedimented sea sand can be used for domestic reclamation, government infrastructure development and construction of facilities by the private sector. What is funny to me is a provision that allows sea sand exports only after domestic demands have been fulfilled. I think even President Jokowi himself is confused by the policy formulation.
In a media briefing at his office, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister Sakti Wahyu Trenggono asserted that sea sand exports to Singapore will only materialize after a thorough study and inspection by related government institutions to make sure the excavated sands come from sea sand sedimentation.
The minister promised to set up a special team to monitor the export process. The team will comprise officials from various ministries apart from his subordinates, such as the Environment and Forestry Ministry, the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry, experts, environmentalists and academics.
