Minister Bahlil: September 28 Is Not The End Limit For Emptying Residents Of Pulau Rempang

Investment Minister Bahlil Lahadalia (Photo: Mery Handayani/VOI)

JAKARTA - Investment Minister/Head of the Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM) Bahlil Lahadalia revealed that September 28 was not the deadline for emptying residents of Pulau Rempang, Batam, Riau Islands.

As is known, residents of Pulau Rempang will be relocated due to the construction of Rempang Eco City on Pulau Rempang, Batam, Riau Islands.

"What is clear, regarding time too, is it until September 28? No. We give more time than that. But we also have to have limits, we give a good midpoint," he said during a press conference, at the BKPM Office, Jakarta, Monday, September 25.

But unfortunately, Bahlil did not reveal when the exact limit for emptying residents would be. Even so, it emphasizes that the lifting of this final limit is so that residents of Pulau Rempang can shift properly.

"So that our brothers and sisters can shift well, but also our efforts from investors can also be done according to what is planned," he explained.

Previously, the Mayor of Batam, the deputy head of BP Batam Rudi Muhammad, said that the deadline for emptying residents was September 28.

Initially, Rudi said the land to work on Rempang Eco City was 17,600 hectares. Within the 17,600 hectares there are 10,028 hectares of protected forest and 7,572 hectares that will be used by PT MEG for investment in the Xinyi Group factory. The factories built are the glass factory and the second largest solar panel after China.

Rudi said BP Batam did not work on the entire land. But only 2,000 hectares for the Xinyi Group with an investment of approximately IDR 172.5 trillion or with 11.5 billion US dollars.

"So not overall on 17,572 hectares of land completed. But in the near future we have to complete the 2,000 so that the order to us is that September 28 which is 2,000 hectares can be completed," he said.

However, said Rudi, it is not easy to empty 2,000 rights. This is because there is a proconstraint from the Rempang community itself.

The one from outside is because many entrepreneurs control the land above 17,600 hectares. Some control 100 hectares, some 200 hectares because their status is protected forest and HPL will not be compensated, we want to take it back," he said.