North Sumatra Governor Bobby Nasution's Palace Denies The Issue Of The Governor Of North Sumatra Wants To Win 4 Islands

The Presidential Palace has denied the issue that the North Sumatra Provincial Government (Pemprov Sumut) wants to take the four disputed islands, namely Panjang Island, Lipan Island, Mangkir Gadang Island, and Mangkir Island, Ketek.

Minister of State Secretary (Mensesneg) Prasetyo Hadi revealed, President Prabowo Subianto's message to straighten out the assumption that there is one province that wants to put four islands into his territory.

"Including that we were asked by the President to straighten out the growing issues that regarding the dynamics of these four islands, that it is not true that there is one provincial government that wants to 'incorporate' these four islands into its administrative territory," said Prasetyo in a written statement reported by ANTARA, Tuesday, June 18.

Previously, there were wild rumors circulating, there was a deposit to include the four islands in the North Sumatra region.

This follows the issuance of the Decree of the Ministry of Home Affairs (Kepmendagri) Number 300.2.2-2138 of 2025 concerning the Provision and Update of Codes and Data on Government and Island Administration Areas, set for April 25, 2025.

The four islands entered the districts of Central Tapanuli, North Sumatra, namely Panjang Island, Lipan Island, Mangkir Gadang Island, and Mangkir Island Ketek.

The government then held a limited meeting chaired by President Prabowo Subianto virtually discussing the polemic of the four disputed islands between Aceh and North Sumatra.

President Prabowo Subianto has set four disputed islands, namely Panjang Island, Lipan Island, Mangkir Gadang Island and Mangkir Island Ketek legally belonging to Aceh administratively.

The Minister of State Secretary said that based on a report from the Ministry of Home Affairs (Kemendagri) which was equipped with supporting data documents.

The Ministry of Home Affairs found an important document from the Decree of the Minister of Home Affairs (Kepmendagri) Number 111 of 1992, which was signed on November 24, 1992, which became the basis for strong law.

"Earlier, the President has decided that the government based on the basic documents owned by the government has decided that the four islands, namely Pulau Panjang, Pulau Lipan, Mangkir Gadang Island, and Mangkir Island Ketek administratively based on government-owned documents, are included in the Aceh administration area," said Prasetyo.