Batam Mayor Investigates Allegations of Illegal Sea Area Partitioning

Batam Mayor Amsakar Achmad, who also serves as the ex-officio head of the Batam Free Trade Zone Authority (BP Batam), has addressed allegations that sea areas within the region have been illegally partitioned. These claims were initially raised by the Minister of Agraria and Tata Ruang/Head of the National Land Agency.

In response, Achmad stated that BP Batam will conduct a re-verification of various sea land allocations made in Batam between 2002 and 2015. He emphasized that the Minister's concerns align with BP Batam's commitment to improving land governance, making it more transparent, accountable, and compliant with current regulations. "The Minister's statement is in line with our current spirit to carry out good, correct, normative, and regulation-compliant governance," Achmad told reporters.

As a follow-up, BP Batam has formally requested guidance from the Ministry of Agraria and Tata Ruang/National Land Agency regarding land allocation governance under the latest regulations. This coordination is deemed necessary due to new rules concerning the administration of the Batam Free Trade Zone and Port, the development of BP Batam's work area, and the management of idle land. "We are writing to the ministry to gain clarity on the proper governance based on the latest regulations. We want to ensure that every step taken is fully compliant with the provisions," Achmad added.

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The Minister's statement is in line with our current spirit to carry out good, correct, normative, and regulation-compliant governance.

Achmad acknowledged that some of the areas highlighted by the Minister were indeed allocated in the past. Consequently, BP Batam will conduct a comprehensive verification of all location permits issued between 2002 and 2015. This process will involve identifying the business entities involved, their specific coordinates, and collaborative discussions for resolution. The approach will prioritize persuasive methods, with the authority expressing gratitude if land allocation holders are willing to return the land to the government, allowing for a renewed planning process with a better concept.

Initial checks by BP Batam indicate that most of the scrutinized areas remain undeveloped sea territories. Any areas that were developed in the past will be addressed separately. A dedicated verification team will conduct in-depth reviews to avoid hasty conclusions, acknowledging that regulations governing coastal and marine area management have undergone several changes.

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We are writing to the ministry to gain clarity on the proper governance based on the latest regulations. We want to ensure that every step taken is fully compliant with the provisions.