JAKARTA - Director General of Marine Spatial Planning of the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) Kartika Listriana opened her voice regarding the dispute over the Ambalat maritime area between Indonesia and Malaysia.
Kartika assessed that the dispute case needed to be resolved across sectors.
Moreover, he said, the dispute became a crucial issue in the arrangement of the sea space.
"So, when we talk about the Ambalat issue, it's cross-sectoral. That's where the security defense is also a crucial issue in the arrangement of the sea space, because we have a far-reaching border, you know," said Kartika at the Morning Sea event entitled "Menata Ruang Laut Together Gen Z" which is monitored online through the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries' YouTube (KKP), Monday, August 11.
Moreover, the border between Indonesia and neighboring countries is not only up to 12 miles, but reaches 200 miles away.
"Not only up to 12 miles, we have 200 miles that our predecessors have fought for," he said.
According to him, the younger generation, especially Gen Z, has a role to play in learning this, both through research, analysis and education.
Thus, said Kartika, the problem can be resolved and can provide benefits for the people around there.
"What should it be explored for? For our welfare, to create jobs (for) our brothers and sisters there," he concluded.
Malaysia's desire to target Indonesia's marine potential at the Ambalat Border has never subsided.
The claims of Ambalat belonging to the neighboring country have also surfaced. Because they once won the islands of Sipadan and Ligitan in the waters of Ambalat.
Later, Malaysia began to be interested in natural resources in the waters. Ambalat is predicted to have oil reserves to reach 764 million barrels. Meanwhile, natural gas reserves reached 1.4 trillion cubic feet.
The spirit of profit has made the Malaysian government prepare its country to claim the Ambalat border as part of their territory since 1979. Indonesia does not accept it. The Ambalat border is indeed close to Malaysia. However, officially Indonesia owns the region for historical reasons.
The Ambalat Waters are the Bulungan Sultanate in East Kalimantan, which is part of Indonesia.
This claim is corroborated by the United Nations Sea Law Convention which has been ratified by the Republic of Indonesia and is listed in Law (UU) Number 17 of 1984.
Ambalat is recognized by the world as belonging to Indonesia. The decision of the International Court which recognized Malaysia's Sipadan Island and Ligitan changed everything in 2002.
Malaysia's Exclusive Economic Zone Points are increasing until they are close to the Ambalat Waters area.
Conflicts and confrontations were inevitable. Malaysia seemed to deliberately provoke Indonesia. This condition lasted until 2015.
The dispute between the Ambalat maritime region between Indonesia and Malaysia is still continuing to this day.
The reason is that this was also a discussion at the meeting of President Prabowo Subianto with Malaysian Prime Minister (PM) Anwar Ibrahim at the Merdeka Palace, Jakarta, Friday, June 27, 2025.
Regarding the Ambalat area, President Prabowo and PM Anwar agreed on an approach through a joint economic cooperation scheme.
"For example, regarding Ambalat, we agreed to solve legal problems. We already want to start with economic cooperation called joint development. Whatever we meet at sea, we will jointly exploit it," Prabowo said as quoted from the official website of the President of the Republic of Indonesia.
PM Anwar Ibrahim also emphasized the spirit of brotherhood and shared responsibility to improve the welfare of the people in the two countries.
He also emphasized the urgency of resolving maritime and border issues.
"If it seems that there are still a slight deadlock in negotiations in terms of law and law regulations, then there are no obstacles for us to immediately cooperate with the economy, including those mentioned earlier in the joint development authority if in the Ambalat area," he said.
On this occasion, PM Anwar also expressed his appreciation for Indonesia's attention to the dynamics at the border.
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