Privatisation of Umang Island: Between Profit and Public Rights<\/p>\n
Kabupaten Pandeglang \u2014 News of the offering of Umang Island in\nPandeglang for Rp65 billion on a property sales website recently is not\nmerely an ordinary business matter. This phenomenon serves as a loud\nalarm for our public space sovereignty. Although the management claims\nit was a unilateral action by a property agent, the reality on the\nground reveals deeper problems: administrative disorder and potential\nillegal control of marine spaces.<\/p>\n
The firm action by the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries\n(KKP), which sealed the site in April 2026, is a step that should have\nbeen taken long ago. Legally, Indonesian laws clearly state that small\nislands cannot be privately owned in full, let alone sold and bought.\nThese islands are state assets whose utilisation must meet strict\nrequirements, including obtaining the Approval for the Suitability of\nMarine Spatial Utilisation Activities (PKKPRL). Without this document,\nbusiness activities on the island are not only illegal but also\npotentially damaging to the ecological order and social access for\nsurrounding communities.<\/p>\n
The main problem with island privatisation often lies in the loss of\npublic rights. In the name of exclusive luxury tourism, access for local\nfishermen or the general public to simply pass by or anchor is often\nrestricted. If the state is not present physically through supervision\nand regulation, our small islands will gradually turn into \u201csmall\nkingdoms\u201d closed off to their own people.<\/p>\n
This phenomenon also reveals disparities in the distribution of\neconomic benefits. Instead of becoming a driver of local welfare,\nexclusive tourism development risks creating economic enclaves\u2014spaces\nthat only benefit a handful of parties. Surrounding communities, who\nshould be the main actors in tourism development, are instead\nmarginalised in terms of access, decent job opportunities, and\ninvolvement in decision-making.<\/p>\n
Furthermore, the Umang Island issue indicates weaknesses in systemic\ncoastal area governance. This is not the first case, and it is likely\nnot the last. Without serious reforms, similar practices could recur on\nother small islands in Indonesia. This is dangerous, considering that\ncoastal areas have strategic functions, both ecologically, economically,\nand in terms of national sovereignty.<\/p>\n
Looking ahead, local and central governments must not merely react\nwhen cases go viral. A comprehensive audit of all small islands in\nBanten and Indonesia in general is needed. Transparency in permitting,\nconsistent law enforcement, and involvement of local communities must be\ntop priorities in every coastal area management policy. In addition, the\ntourism concepts developed need to be directed towards principles of\nsustainability and inclusivity, not just exclusivity.<\/p>\n
The Umang Island conflict must serve as a valuable lesson: that\nprofits from natural beauty must not stand on violations of the law and\nneglect of public rights. Economic development and safeguarding\nsovereignty must go hand in hand, without any inch of the homeland being\ntreated as ordinary merchandise. In this context, the state\u2019s bias\ntowards public interests becomes the main key\u2014so that shared living\nspaces remain the property of all, not just those who can afford to buy\nthem.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/privatisation-of-umang-island-between-profit-and-public-rights-1778504028", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }