Official! Gelora Kie Raha Owned by Ternate, Ending 15-Year Controversy

Gelora Kie Raha Ternate Stadium after renovations, Friday (August 22, 2025). ANTARA/Abdul Fatah

TERNATE - The Ternate City National Land Agency (BPN) confirmed that the Gelora Kie Raha Stadium (GKR) is legally registered as an asset belonging to the Ternate City Government.

This confirmation also ends the long-running controversy over the ownership of this stadium, the pride of the people of North Maluku.

"The legal ownership status of Gelora Kie Raha refers to regulations related to regional autonomy and the regional expansion process. This concludes the long-standing controversy," said the Head of the Ternate City BPN, Arman Anwar, when contacted from Ternate by Antara on Friday, August 22.

Arman explained that the basis for ownership of the GKR Stadium is regulated by two main regulations: Government Regulation (PP) Number 78 of 2007 concerning Procedures for the Formation, Abolition, and Merger of Regions, and Decree of the Minister of Home Affairs Number 42 of 2001 concerning Guidelines for the Transfer of Assets and Debts and Receivables to New Regions.

Furthermore, a deed of gift from the West Halmahera (Halbar) Regency Government to the Ternate City Government, issued during the tenure of the late Mayor Burhan Abdurrahman, also strengthens the legal basis for ownership of the stadium.

"The 2016 minutes document lists the handover of land and buildings, including Gelora Kie Raha, from the Halbar Regency Government to the Ternate City Government. Only three assets were not handed over, and the stadium was not among them," explained Arman.

Arman explained that the National Land Agency (BPN) is currently processing the issuance of a new certificate because the old certificate was lost. However, Gelora Kie Raha has officially been included in the Ternate City Government's Asset Inventory Card (KIB).

The Head of the Ternate City BPKAD Asset Division, Salim Albaar, stated that the stadium has been registered as a city government asset since 2009. However, because the old certificate was still in the name of the North Maluku Regency Government, this was uncovered during an audit by the Supreme Audit Agency (BPK).

"In the BPK audit, the existence of the old certificate is an administrative issue that must be addressed immediately, both in terms of land and building legality," said Salim.

Meanwhile, Deputy Speaker I of the Ternate City Council (DPRD), Amin Subuh, stated that the National Land Agency (BPN)'s explanation provides a valid legal basis for resolving the controversy. He stated that all that remains is to complete the administrative procedures to prevent new problems in the future.

"There is no longer any reason to doubt the ownership status of Gelora Kie Raha Stadium," Amin said.

Previously, the Head of the Government Section of the West Halmahera Regency Secretariat, Fadli Husen, had asked the Ternate City Government not to unilaterally claim ownership of the stadium. He stated that Gelora Kie Raha remains an asset belonging to North Maluku Regency, which is now West Halmahera Regency.

However, with clarification and legal evidence provided by the Ternate BPN, the issue has now been resolved.

Therefore, the Ternate City Government now has full authority to manage Gelora Kie Raha Stadium, both for sports and other regional activities.