Prabowo: No More Polemic Of Regional Boundaries, The Principle Is The Unitary State Of The Republic Of Indonesia

JAKARTA - President Prabowo Subianto advised his staff not to cause any more polemics on regional boundaries because all problems must be resolved with the principles of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia (NKRI).

"I think the principle that we are one country, the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia, I think it is our guide. But, thank God, if we quickly have a common understanding, I think it is very good," said President Prabowo while chairing a limited meeting via video conference connection on the sidelines of his trip to Russia, Tuesday, June 17.

Presiden Prabowo dalam rapat terbatas itu memutuskan empat pulau yang menjadi perairan batas wilayah antar provinsi di Sumatra masuk wilayah administrasi Provinsi Aceh.

The four disputed islands of Aceh Province and North Sumatra Province are Panjang Island, Lipan Island, Mangkir Kecil Island, and Mangkir Besar Island.

Therefore, President Prabowo asked his staff to immediately disseminate the central government's attitude towards the polemic of the four islands, so that the problem does not drag on.

"Immediately it will be announced to the public so that it doesn't become material to make it busy again. Our atmosphere is very good, so we really need an explanation to continue to the people, our condition is good, our economy is good, our growth is good, agricultural products. I think progress in all fields," said President Prabowo.

The limited meeting through a video conference connection led by President Prabowo was attended by Minister of Home Affairs Tito Karnavian, Minister of State Secretary / Spokes President of the Republic of Indonesia Prasetyo Hadi, Governor of Aceh Muzakir Manaf, Governor of North Sumatra Bobby Nasution and Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Sufmi Dasco Ahmad.

The polemic regarding the boundaries of the four islands emerged after the Ministry of Home Affairs determined the four islands to enter the administrative area of North Sumatra Province. The Ministry of Home Affairs' decision was later rejected by the Aceh Provincial Government.

The polemic then ended today after the President set the four islands into the administrative area of Aceh Province.

"The President has decided that the government is based on the basic documents held by the government. It has taken the decision that the four islands, namely Panjang Island, Lipan Island, Mangkir Gadang Island (Large), and Mangkir Ketek Island (Small) administratively based on the documents owned by the government, are entering the administrative area of Aceh Province," said RI Presidential Spokesperson Prasetyo Hadi to reporters in Jakarta, Tuesday.

Prasetyo continued that the documents referred to by the regional government referred to the documents held by the Ministry of State Secretariat, the Ministry of Home Affairs, and the Aceh Provincial Government.

"Therefore, we represent the government, hoping that this decision will be a good solution for all of us, for the Aceh Government (Province), for the North Sumatra Government (Province), this is a solution that we hope will end all developing dynamics in the community," continued Prasetyo.