Pramono Anung Responds To Cat Island Criticism: If You Don't Make Sense, You Will Not Be Forced

Officers carry out vaccinations and sterilization of cats in the Thousand Islands Regency as an effort to prevent rabies transmission from animals. (ANTARA)

JAKARTA - DKI Jakarta Governor Pramono Anung responded to the polemic about the discourse of placing the population of illegal Jakarta cats to be moved to the Thousand Islands, Tidung Island to be precise.

The placement of Tidung Kecil Island to be used as a cat island has drawn criticism, and has even been rejected by a number of parties. One of them is a member of the DKI Jakarta DPRD. Pramono admitted to accommodating the criticism.

"I'm the one who hears criticism. Criticism is a healthy label. If you don't make sense, don't force the policy," Pramono said, quoted Wednesday, June 4.

Pramono emphasized that the DKI Provincial Government is still conducting studies on potential to the impact of the placement of cat island tours in the Thousand Islands.

"It hasn't been decided yet. It's under study. When it's been studied, what are the benefits, where are the benefits, then we will decide," said Pramono.

What is clear is that the DKI Provincial Government continues the cat-cat sterilization program in Jakarta to reduce its population.

"We will continue the sterilization. So we are targeting 22 thousand. 22 thousand this year. Hopefully with that sterilization, the cat population in Jakarta will decrease," he explained.

Member of the PSI faction of the DKI Jakarta DPRD, Total Widjojo, rejected the discourse of making Tidung Kecil Island the location of Cat Island. According to him, the idea contradicts the provisions in Regional Regulation (Perda) Number 7 of 2024 concerning Spatial and Regional Plans (RTRW).

This refers to Article 70 Paragraph 2 of the Regional Regulation on RTRW, which states that Tidung Kecil Island is included in the waters conservation area of the Thousand Islands with an area of 1,337 hectares. This area also includes Damar Kecil Island, Karang Beras Island, Pari Island, Payung Besar Island, Payung Kecil Island, Tidung Besar Island, and Air Island.

"Obviously it is stated in the DKI Jakarta Regional Regulation Number 7 of 2024, that Tidung Kecil Island is a conservation area, not just a tourist zone," said God in a written statement, Tuesday, June 3.

Furthermore, Article 94 Paragraph 1, Tidung Kecil Island is also categorized as a strategic area from the point of view of the function and carrying capacity of the environment. Therefore, according to him, the plan to make the island a cat-themed tourist location is not in accordance with its designation.

He emphasized that thematic tourism activities, including those that focus on pets such as cats, cannot be run in the marine biota protection area.

"Moreover, this is an uninhabited small island. We cannot equate the cat situation in urban areas with if they are released on islands like Tidung Kecil," he said.

This also highlights that cats are invasive predators that have the potential to damage the balance of the ecosystem. He said cats can prey on various animals such as birds, small mammals, reptiles, insects, to green turtles and protected amphibians.

"They can be a serious threat to conservation efforts," he added.