The Helipad Polemic On Panjang Island: Called Illegal By Prasetyo Edi Marsudi, Praised By The Regent

Helipad on Panjang Island, Thousand Islands, Thursday (30/6/2022). (ANTARA/Ricky Prayoga)

JAKARTA - The Regent of the Thousand Islands Junaedi recalled the function of the helicopter pad (helipad) when a tornado hit the islands at the end of March 2022.

Just then, aid came surging through the air to help the residents. And the aid was sent via a helipad on Pulau Panjang.

"Fortunately there is an airstrip on Panjang Island, we were able to get there in a hurry. Because if we use a ship, the weather is not good anymore, there are waves so we have to use helicopters," Junaedi told reporters in North Jakarta, Thursday, June 30.

Junaedi said that the regent had previously planned to build an airport in the Thousand Islands in 2004. However, the area has been neglected for 18 years since the construction project was stopped.

The reason is, the findings of the Supreme Audit Agency (BPK) that airport construction cannot be continued, but is returned to the trade and service zone.

"Now the roads are good, previously the airport was damaged, we also painted it for the public interest. Including when the TNI helicopters and the Police landed when there was a tornado last March," Junaedi said as quoted by Antara.

Junaedi did not deny the existence of the airstrip is also sometimes used to bait tourists who want to visit the Thousand Islands.

The airstrip used to feed tourists from Halim Airport and Pondok Cabe, so people who want to go to the island who are afraid of waves can use the helicopter option.

Nevertheless, he did not dare to charge a fee for every helicopter that landed.

"There is no retribution, there is no parking fee. Because we are afraid. The retribution must use local regulations (perda)," he said.

Moreover, at the airstrip at most in a month there are only two to three landings.

Initially the initiative to repair the abandoned airstrip was to prepare facilities for the public so that it could be faster. It turned out to be useful when there was an emergency such as a hurricane in March.

"This includes if there is a presidential visit later, for example, if there is a shrimp harvest, we will also prepare the helicopter field," said Junaedi.

Previously, the Chairman of the DKI Jakarta DPRD, Prasetyo Edi Marsudi, carried out an impromptu inspection (sidak) to Panjang Island, the Thousand Islands. The inspection was carried out after receiving reports from residents that there was a helicopter pad or helipad on the island.

Sure enough. When he arrived at Panjang Island, Prasetyo found a helipad unit parked on the island, which is located in Kelapa Island Village, North Thousand Islands District.

Based on information received by Prasetyo, this helipad was built and used by a private party. However, this utilization was not recorded by the DKI Jakarta Provincial Government (Pemrov).

"I found out that one of them has a helipad that is being used by a private party. If we don't come here, where can we have a helipad. How come there is a helipad in DKI assets, but we don't report it to us. This is called an illegal helipad, a stealth helipad," he said.

Prasetyo said that there should be a permit application to the DKI Provincial Government for the use of this government-owned land or asset. Parties who use these assets must also pay a levy which will go into the regional treasury.

"If the helipad is official, every time it lands it gives income to the provincial government, right. But so far it hasn't. He doesn't report transparently that there is land use in it," said Prasetyo.