Nine Years of Pushing, the Regional Islands Bill Finally Entered the 2026 Priority

JAKARTA - Almost nine years after being pushed by the DPD RI, the Draft Regional Law for the Islands finally entered the National Legislation Program for Priority 2026.

The Chairman of the DPD RI, Sultan Bachtiar Najamudin, said his agency has consistently proposed the bill since 2017.

"For almost nine years, since 2017, the DPD RI has proposed the Regional Islands Bill in every national legislation program," said the Sultan in the Annual Session of the MPR and Joint Session of the DPR and DPD at the Parliament Complex, Senayan, Jakarta, Friday, August 14.

According to the Sultan, the discussion of the bill is a necessity for people living in the archipelago.

"Year after year tirelessly, the long struggle has now borne fruit. The bill has officially entered the 2026 Priority Prolegnas," he said.

The Sultan expressed his appreciation to President Prabowo Subianto and the DPR for the start of discussion of the Regional Islands Bill.

DPD hopes that the regulation can strengthen the fairness of development for the archipelago.

The Sultan expressed optimism that the bill could be passed and become an important part of Prabowo's government policy towards the archipelago.

DPD, said the Sultan, also continues to monitor the issue of regional autonomy, central-regional relations, natural resource management, the state budget, taxes, education, to the implementation of special autonomy for Aceh and Papua.

He emphasized that special autonomy funds must benefit indigenous people and encourage the acceleration of development in the outermost and most remote areas.