Prabowo Sets Status 4 Of Dispute Island Entering Aceh Region

Deputy Speaker of the Indonesian House of Representatives Sufmi Dasco together with the Minister of State Secretary Hadi and a number of related officials when delivering a press statement at the Presidential Office, Jakarta, Tuesday (17/6/2025) (ANTARA/Andi Firdaus)

JAKARTA - President Prabowo Subianto decided that the status of Panjang Island, Lipan Island, Mangkir Gadang Island, and Mangkir Kepek Island was included in the administrative area of Aceh Province.

This was conveyed by the Minister of State Secretary (Mensesneg) Prasetyo Hadi after holding a limited meeting with a number of related parties at the Presidential Palace, Jakarta, Tuesday.

"The government has decided that the four islands, namely Panjang Island, Lipan Island, Mangkir Gadang Island, and Mangkir Ketek administratively based on government documents, enter the administrative area of the Aceh region," said the Minister of State Secretary at the Jakarta Presidential Office, confiscated by Antara.

Prasetyo said the meeting was led directly by President Prabowo Subianto online to find a way out of the dynamics of four islands in North Sumatra and Aceh.

Based on reports from the Ministry of Home Affairs, as well as supporting data documents owned by the government, said Prasetyo, the President decided that the four islands administratively entered the administrative area of Aceh.

The Ministry of State Affairs facilitates the hearing of two regional heads regarding the ownership status of four islands located on the administrative boundaries of Aceh and North Sumatra Provinces.

Present in person at the meeting were Minister of State Secretary Prasetyo Hadi, Minister of Home Affairs Tito Karnavian, Deputy Speaker of the Indonesian House of Representatives Sufmi Dasco, Governor of Aceh Muzakir Manaf and Governor of North Sumatra Bobby Nasution.

The polemic of the four islands previously surfaced after the issuance of the Decree of the Minister of Home Affairs (Kepmendagri) Number 300.2.2-2138 of 2025 concerning the Provision and Update of Codes and Data on Government and Island Administration Areas set for April 25, 2025.

In this provision, the Ministry of Home Affairs designated the four islands as part of Central Tapanuli Regency, North Sumatra. In fact, previously it was included in the administrative area of Aceh Singkil Regency.