Mahfud MD Explains Land Status On Pulau Rempang Batam, There Is A Decree On Providing Land Rights To Companies

Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Mahfud MD/ANTARA/Genta Tenri Mawangi.

Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs (Menko Polhukam) Mahfud MD explained that the state has given land rights on Pulau Rempang, Batam, Riau Islands, to the company.

He said the decree (SK) regarding the granting of land rights was issued in 2001 and 2002.

"The legal problem is also to remember, many people do not know, the land, the Rempang ( Island) has been given its rights by the state to a company, a company entity to be used in business rights. That's the island of Rempang. It was 2001, 2002," Mahfud told reporters as reported by ANTARA, Friday, September 8.

However, in 2004, the right to use the land was granted to other parties.

Before investors entered, this land had apparently not been worked on and had never been supplied so that in 2004 and so on it followed with several decisions, the land was given new rights to other people to live in. In fact, his rights decree was issued in 2001, 2002 legally, "said Mahfud MD.

He continued that the situation became complicated when investors began to enter the island of Rempang in 2022.

"When yesterday in 2022 the investor will enter, the right holder comes there, it turns out that the land has been occupied. Then, it was ordered that it turned out that there was an error from the local government and the central government, in this case the Ministry of Environment and Forestry," said Mahfud MD.

Therefore, this mistake was corrected so that the land rights were still owned by the company as the decree issued in 2001 and 2002.

"This land emptying process is now the source of the commotion. It's not the right to land, it's not the right to use it, it's not. But the process, because it's been a long time, people there suddenly have to leave. Although, according to law it's not allowed, because it has people's rights, except for a certain period of time, which is more than 20 years," he said.

When asked about the status of the land which may be customary land, Mahfud admitted that he did not know about it.

"I don't know. I don't know. Anyway, the government has issued the process legally," said Mahfud MD.

If there is customary land on the island of Rempang, Mahfud said it is possible that the data is in the National Land Agency (BPN) and the Ministry of Environment and Forestry (KLHK).

Regarding the mistake allegedly committed by the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, Mahfud explained that there were 56 decrees issued by the ministry but it had been canceled.

"If I'm not mistaken, all 56 decisions were canceled, because it was wrong after seeing the legal basis. That is more appropriate to do than for example being allowed to drag on because the rights exist and want to invest people now, many investors want to enter, it turns out that the land does not exist, so it must be vacated first. That's the real problem," said Mahfud MD.