Members Of The House Of Representatives: Joint Advocacy On Island Switching In Aceh To North Sumatra Is Needed

Member of the Indonesian House of Representatives from Aceh Rafly (ANTARA/HO)

BANDA ACEH - Member of the DPR from the Electoral District (Dapil) Aceh Rafly asked all parties not to accuse each other of the transfer of four islands in Aceh Singkil to North Sumatra, but instead to sit down together to discuss the advocacy steps to be taken.

"Of course it is not good if we respond by accusing each other and looking for the party to blame without comprehensively understanding all the aspects on which the decision was based," said Rafly in a written statement quoted by Antara, Tuesday, May 24.

According to Rafly, the administrative transition of the four islands in Aceh Singkil to North Sumatra needs to be discussed and addressed together so that it does not become a prolonged polemic.

He said the administrative shift of the four islands did not just happen, but there was a long process that had to be passed many years ago.

Therefore, Rafly suggested that all "stakeholders" in Aceh need to sit down together, not only discussing the issue of the administrative transition of the four islands but other things as a whole.

"Aceh stakeholders need to sit down together, the Aceh government, DPRA, Forbes, Wali Nanggroe, ulama, academics, and other stakeholders. Discuss everything, then take a joint stance," he said.

Rafly believes that if Aceh is united and compact, then all problems can be solved. Ministries and the central government will surely listen to the aspirations that are voiced together.

“Thus Aceh is really being advocated. Not only the region, but all aspects, both socio-political and economic that can improve the welfare of the people," said Rafly.

For information, based on the Decree of the Minister of Home Affairs Number 050-145 of 2022, dated February 14, 2022, the administrative area of the four islands that were previously included in the Aceh Singkil area has been shifted to Central Tapanuli Regency, North Sumatra.

The four islands that enter North Sumatra are Mangkir Besar Island, Mangkir Kecil Island, Lipan Island, and Panjang Island. In fact, the islands are located in the Pulau Banyak archipelago, Aceh Singkil Regency.