BULUNGAN – Vice Chairman of The House of Regional Representatives of Republic of Indonesia (DPD RI), Mahyudin accompanied by the Vice Minister of Agrarian and Spatial Planning (ATR)/Deputy Head of the National Land Agency (BPN) Surya Tjandra and Vice Minister of Environment and Forestry (KLHK) Alue Dohong, conducted a working visit to North Kalimantan from the 28th to 30th of March 2022,
Mahyudin said that the presence of two vice ministers during the visit was to harmonize the perspectives on regional development issues and to cope up with the aspirations of the people.
“Firsthand, they could witness current obstacles, opportunities, and development issues in North Kalimantan. Also, to immediately issue the appropriate policies, after seeing and hearing directly the aspirations of the people,” said Mahyudin, in a written statement, Thursday, (31/3).
The working visit, filled with public discussions and visits, had gathered various inputs and aspirations from community groups, as well as local governments.
Some of the problems encountered were related to land, such as land tenure in forest areas.
Vice Minister of ATR/Deputy Head of BPN, Surya Tjandra, said that there had been efforts to fix land problems in the forest, issuing Presidential Regulation Number 88 of 2017 concerning Completion of Land Tenure in Forest Areas (PPTKH).
“We are working with the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) and the Ministry of Environment and Forestry (KLHK) to fix the border of forest areas as instructed by the President. We hope PPTKH could dilute the atmosphere and become one of the development breakthroughs that also protects the environment,” he said.
In the forum, Surya also admitted that he was very impressed with the solidarity between the Vice Chairman of DPD RI and several members of the DPD for Kaltara electoral district across committees in solving the various issues there.
“To fix the existing problems, a solid community role is needed. In addition, a solid DPD role as a representative of the region and the community is also needed, to connect the gap between the government and the community,” he added.
Meanwhile, Vice Minister of Environment and Forestry Alue Dohong admitted that there were still many problems with land ownership and forestry in Kaltara.
He also explained that the government has currently approved the pattern of Settlement of Land Tenure in Forest Areas (PPTKH) in 130 regencies/cities throughout Indonesia with a total land area of 330,357 hectares to be implemented.
“Regarding the old villages that need certification but located in forest areas, we issue the certificates and change the forest boundaries to make them legal assets for the community. So, the people can get certainty over the land obtained from the forest,” he explained.
Border Infrastructure
During a working visit to North Kalimantan, Mahyudin also saw many development challenges faced by the youngest province, especially the availability of proper infrastructure on the border with Malaysia, such as in Krayan District, Nunukan Regency.
He also reminded the government not to neglect development in the border area as to avoid the similar claiming incident of the Sipadan-Ligitan by Malaysia.
It is undeniable that many potential threats and disturbances related to state sovereignty occurred in border areas.
In addition, regardless of their strong nationalism, the people at the Krayan area are economically dependent on Malaysia for its limited land transportation.
“The people who live there have proven their loyalty to Indonesia. There is even a jargon saying, ‘Ringgit in my purse, Malaysia in my stomach, but Garuda is still on my chest.’ This shows their unwavering loyalty to Indonesia against the convenience offered by the neighbouring country, Malaysia,” Mahyudin said.
Mahyudin requested not to ignore the suffering of the people living in the border who rely more on neighbouring products since domestic products are higher in price for its limited access in transportation.
“These various infrastructure limitations have created a very large disparity for the community living in Krayan District, Nunukan Regency, North Kalimantan, and their neighbors in Sabah and Sarawak, Malaysia,” he said.
It is ironic that the people living in Krayan have difficulties in owning a certified land, because almost the entire area has the status of protected forest.
Whereas, according to Mahyudin, it is very important to have certificates in border areas, as a form of state existence.
“Learn from the experience of the Sipadan-Ligitan case which eventually became the property of Malaysia. Because in international courts, authentic evidence of Indonesian ownership was weak. Maybe it would be a different story if we have land certificates belonging to Indonesian citizens in this case,” he said.
Mahyudin also concerns the fact that there are differences in the treatment of the two countries towards the border.
In Indonesia, the border area is made into a protected forest, then in Malaysia it becomes a center of economic growth, such as establishing a CPO factory.
According to him, this is what the government, especially the Ministry of ATR/BPN, and the Ministry of LHK should pay attention to.
“It’s not that I’m suggesting that all protected forests be converted, but we have to admit that our fellow Indonesians staying there need a place to live and do business. I hope this matter will be a priority for the Ministry of ATR,” said Mahyudin while explaining to the Deputy Minister of ATR/BPN Surya Candra.
According to Surya, the problem cannot be separated from the complexity of agrarian management, because there are still overlapping regulations which makes the technical implementation still a sectoral ego.
“We have complex and challenging problems here. Not only focusing on public service, but also issues growing on the border with Malaysia,” he said.
With such a situation, the Ministry of ATR/BPN should no longer think of sectoral egos, but must work together across sectors, including the Ministry of LHK.
“We should organize it well because the keyword is the forest area boundaries,” he said.
Apart from Krayan, the challenges of border road infrastructure with Malaysia are also found in Apau Kayan, Malinau Regency, North Kalimantan where it only has one road made by PT Sumalindo.
But now, the road is no longer maintained, because PT Sumalindo is no longer operating.
“We face a dilemma that the government can not build roads because the status of the roads still belongs to the company. So, later we will call the Sumalindo Corporate to ask for the release and clarity on the ownership of the road from them,” Mahyudin concluded.
