Bakamla Hopes The Sea Security Bill Will Soon Become A Law

ILLUSTRATION/ANTARA/Humas Bakamla

JAKARTA - The Maritime Security Agency (Bakamla) hopes that the Draft Law (RUU) on Maritime Security will soon be passed into law (UU).

The head of Bakamla, Admiral TNI, Irvansyah, believes that the discussion on the bill can be finalized this year. Given that the plan to form this law has been discussed since 2016.

"When viewed from the discussion, our discussion earlier, I am optimistic that this year will be over. Yes, we have started 2016," said Irvansyah, Monday, March 3.

Irvansyah assessed that the discussion of the Bill on Bakamla had not been completed because it had been stopped due to a change of leadership. Including changes to members of the House of Representatives (DPR) in line with the implementation of the General Election (Pemilu).

"It's not finished, it's over, the government has changed it, the members of the DPR have changed it, it's not finished yet. Yes, it continues, hopefully, this will be new at the beginning, hopefully, this will be fast," he said.

However, Irvansyah is optimistic that the discussion of the bill will run faster with the support of the Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs, the Coordinating Minister for Law, Immigration, and Corrections, as well as members of the council.

"Hopefully we can work even more optimally, there are no more holes (related to marine security)," he said.

In addition, Irvansyah also suggested that Bakamla be given the authority to carry out investigations through the law. Currently, he said, Bakamla does not have the authority to enforce the law.

According to Irvansyah, criminals at sea who were arrested by Bakamla must be handed over to the investigative team from other agencies, such as the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) and the Indonesian Navy. Due to the limited authority, he said, Bakamla's role was not optimal.

According to him, the position of making the Minutes of Investigation (BAP) to the determination of the sanctions is completely determined by the investigator.

"We didn't make the file, we didn't make the BAP, just hand it over there. It's up to the ground, want to be investigated, want to be punished, want to be released, what can we do, we can't control it anymore. We don't have the right or authority to intervene as well as the next legal process," he concluded.