Gerindra Pushes for Rau-Daruba Island Port Development to Serve 40,000 Islanders
Deputy Chairman of Commission V of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI) from the Gerindra Party, Andi Iwan Darmawan Aras, is urging the Ministry of Transportation to immediately construct a Ferry Port connecting Rau and Daruba islands. He stated that the infrastructure is needed to serve approximately 40,000 residents living on the outer islands of Pangkajene and Islands Regency (Pangkep), South Sulawesi. The Gerindra Party legislator from South Sulawesi emphasised that the transportation infrastructure aspirations received by Commission V during working visits must be forwarded and championed with the relevant ministry.
"During every working visit we conduct, we are usually accompanied by the district and provincial governments. On those occasions, they convey various aspirations which we then forward to our partners at the Ministry of Transportation," said Andi Iwan. However, after reviewing the government’s presentation during the meeting, he noted that the proposal for the Rau-Daruba Ferry Port had not yet been included in the Directorate General of Land Transportation’s plans.
The Chairman of the South Sulawesi Gerindra Party assessed that the government needs to pay special attention to the transportation needs of people living in island regions. To date, residents of the outer islands in Pangkep Regency still face limited access and connectivity. This condition was identified when Commission V conducted a specific working visit to Pangkep Regency. According to Andi Iwan, transportation services through the Sea Toll programme and the Nusantara Ship programme have not been able to optimally reach all island areas.
He stressed that the construction of the ferry port is not merely a physical project, but concerns the basic needs of the community. Adequate transportation availability will determine the smooth mobility of residents, the distribution of essential goods, public services, and economic movement in the island region. "Around 40,000 people in the outer sub-districts are highly dependent on ferry services. The area even borders South Kalimantan, while other parts are geographically closer to Lombok Island, West Nusa Tenggara. Therefore, this area requires special attention," he asserted.
Andi Iwan believes that good transportation connectivity will end the region’s isolation while facilitating the flow of people and goods. The ferry port is also expected to reduce shipping costs, expand the market for local products, and encourage economic growth in the outer islands. To ensure the project can be realised, he requested that the Directorate General of Land Transportation immediately conduct a technical study or feasibility assessment. This study is crucial so that the construction of the Rau-Daruba Ferry Port can be included in the government’s planning and budgeting documents. "If the Nusantara Ship service has not been able to optimally reach the area, we hope the Directorate General of Land Transportation will immediately initiate a study. We have conveyed this proposal, and hopefully, the study can begin next year so that the construction budget can be allocated soon," he concluded.