Bobby Criticises Batu Bara Regent's Plan to Create East Coast Sumatra Province

North Sumatra Governor (Gubsu) Bobby Nasution has taken a swipe at the movement to split and establish the East Coast Sumatra Province. He stated that the movement was initiated by Batu Bara Regent Baharuddin Siagian.

According to detikSumut on Wednesday (22/4/2026), Nasution made these remarks in his speech at the opening of the 2027 North Sumatra Musrenbang event, attended by Interior Minister Tito Karnavian and all regents/mayors in North Sumatra.

Nasution initially mentioned plans for developing a North Sumatra industrial zone in Batu Bara Regency. However, he said those plans could be cancelled if Baharuddin wants to split Batu Bara by creating the East Coast Sumatra Province.

“But if you want to split it with Pak Regent, then we won’t build it there. If it becomes a new province, it won’t be the North Sumatra industrial zone anymore, just like the chillies we focused on in Batu Bara earlier. But if it splits, we won’t proceed with this, Pak,” he said.

Nasution then explained to Tito Karnavian about Baharuddin’s plan to form the East Coast Sumatra Province. However, he conveyed Tito’s message regarding regional splitting.

“With permission, Pak Interior Minister, Pak Batu Bara Regent wants to split, he says to become the East Coast Sumatra Province. I mentioned during the plenary session just like what Pak Interior Minister once said, when the moratorium on splitting is lifted, it’s not just about splitting that should be discussed, but also merging, because talking about splitting only means the number of regencies or provinces increases, but we shouldn’t taboo the idea that the number of regencies or even provinces could decrease if it’s opened,” he said.

He took a swipe that Batu Bara could rejoin Asahan Regency. He brought up the financial condition of the Batu Bara Regency government.

“So be careful too, Pak Bahar, it might not develop but disappear instead, I’m afraid. The message to be conveyed there, later uniting again with Asahan wouldn’t be pleasant, instead of splitting it shrinks, especially with our current financial condition, Pak, I’m afraid later there will be complaints about PPPK and such, if you want to learn from the province, Pak Bahar can carry out provincial authorities using Batu Bara’s APBD. This is half-joking, Pak, but there’s a bit of seriousness,” he said.