No Licensing, KKP Seals Two Foreigners Resorts On Maratua Island, East Kalimantan

PSDKP Director General Pung Nugroho Saksono (center). Photo: Theresia Agatha/VOI

JAKARTA - The Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) has sealed two resorts that are accommodated by foreign nationals (WNA) on Maratua Island, Berau Regency, East Kalimantan. They are considered not to have a number of licensing documents in the use of small islands.

Director General of Marine and Fishery Resources Supervision (PSDKP) Pung Nugroho Saksono directly led the sealing of resorts on Maratua Island, Bakungan Besar Island and Bakungan Kecil on Thursday, September 19, 2024.

"We were there. Incidentally there were two outer islands that they connected using the wooden bridge. Well, that's where we were surprised that none of our residents were. It contained all resorts, foreigners," he said at a press conference at his office, Monday, September 23.

The man who akrap called Ipunk said that the two resorts allegedly did not have three licensing documents, namely the approval of suitability of sea space utilization activities (PKKPRL), permits for other tirta tourism activities without business licenses and permits for the use of small islands.

The KKP also saw that one of the resorts on Bakungan Island connected an island with another island using a bridge managed by PMA from Germany and Swiss foreigners. Meanwhile, the resort management company on Maratua Island is managed by PMA from Malaysia.

"Well, our presence there was to check the documents, it turned out that they were not equipped with valid documents. So, we carried out sealing in the area," said Ipunk.

"We urge the manager to immediately complete the administration. If it has not been completed, we will still seal it," he continued.

Ipunk emphasized that his party did not want the outer islands to have the same fate as Sipadan Island and Ligitan, where the foreigners initially entered the islands to invest.

"We really support investment, especially in the tourism sector, because at this time (as) one of the largest foreign exchange contributors to the country. However, Maratua Island should not let foreign investment interfere with the integrity of the Republic of Indonesia. They enter with PMA and build resorts but are not licensed, have been in control for a long time," he said.

On the same occasion, the Director of Marine Resources Management Supervision of the Directorate General of PSDKP Halid K Jusuf revealed, this firm stance is to increase the compliance of business actors with the rules.

"PMAs who want to establish businesses on small islands must obtain permission from the KKP," he said.