The Riau Islands Governor Is Still Investigating The Issue Of Four Islands Sales In Anambas

Riau Islands Governor (Kepri) Ansar Ahmad. BETWEEN/Ogen

JAKARTA - Riau Islands Governor (Kepri) Ansar Ahmad said that his party was still investigating the issue of the sale of four islands in Anambas Regency through foreign online sites.

Ansar instructed the Riau Islands Regional Border Management Agency (BP2D) to immediately coordinate with the Anambas Regency Government to check the accuracy of the information.

"The Central Government through the relevant ministries also intervened to address the issue of the sale of four islands in Anambas," said Governor Ansar in Tanjungpinang, Monday, June 23, as reported by ANTARA.

He admitted that he did not know who the owners of the islands were, including the figure who promoted the four islands to be sold online on the website www.privatislandonline.com.

The four islands in question are Ritan Island, Tokongsendok Island, Mala Island, and Nakok Island, with a total area of 159 hectares.

"It still needs to be investigated whether it was really sold or just an issue or a hoax," said Ansar.

He emphasized that according to the applicable laws and regulations, there is no island that can be owned personally, but there are limits and conditions.

According to him, the control of island land is personally limited by the central government, where the maximum of the island area that can be controlled is only 70 percent, the remaining 30 percent for government access (state) and society.

"This means that these islands can still be used by investors to invest according to existing regulations," said Ansar.

In total there are 2,408 large and small islands spread throughout the Riau Islands region, there are 390 inhabited islands recorded.

The provincial government claims to still pay attention to uninhabited islands, especially the outer islands in Natuna and Anambas, in particular to be offered to investors to increase local revenue (PAD).

"For development, there are still many people on inhabited islands that need to be built, let alone uninhabited. Well, one of them is we encourage the use of uninhabited islands for investment activities," said Ansar.