News Appears There Is Interest In Singapore Behind PP Number 26 Of 2023, This Is The Response Of The Minister Of KKP

Minister of KKP Sakti Wahyu Trenggono (center). Photo: Theresia Agatha/VOI

JAKARTA - Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) Sakti Wahyu Trenggono responded to Singapore's alleged interest behind the issuance of Government Regulation (PP) Number 26 of 2023 concerning Management of sedimentation Results at sea, on 15 May.

Trenggono said the regulation was formed to clarify regulations for the use of sedimentation results for reclamation, not for selling the country. Because, according to him, domestic reclamation requests are very high.

"In Surabaya there is a request for reclamation, at IKN there is reclamation, take sand from where, move islands? Yes, it's okay, but use sedimentation. That's why there is this rule," he said at a press conference at the KKP Building, Wednesday, May 31.

According to him, sea sand exports are allowed as long as they get permission from a special study team, consisting of KKP, Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, Ministry of Environment, to Environmental NGOs, such as Walhi and Green Peace.

This is in accordance with the establishment of derivative rules in the form of Regulation of the Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (PermenKP) from PP Number 26 of 2023.

"This sedimentation is made to fulfill domestic reclamation. If you want to bring it out (export), yes, go ahead, but based on the results of the study team (KLHK, ESDM, KKP, WALHI, Green Peace) if they say yes, I will allow it. If not, yes, you can't," said Trenggono.

He considered that if the results of the sedimentation according to the study team were allowed to be exported, it would increase state revenue.

The Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries also did not deny that the export of sediment would not only be able to go to Singapore, but also to Japan or be sent to other countries, depending on the decision of the study team.

"If experts say this is the result of sedimentation, yes, there is no need to export to Singapore, but just export to Japan, what's wrong with it. I focus on how to build domestic reclamation, so far the focus is on where it comes from. It must be with sedimentation results," he concluded.

Previously, President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) had issued Government Regulation of the Republic of Indonesia Number 26 of 2023 concerning Management of sedimentation Results in the Sea. One of the things highlighted in the PP is the allowing sea sand exports.