Gerindra Raises Critical Notes on Archipelagic Regions Bill
A cross-commission Special Committee of the House of Representatives (DPR) began discussing the Draft Law on Archipelastic Regions (RUU Kepulauan) on Thursday, 25 June 2026. Alimudin Kolatlena, a politician from the Gerindra Party, provided critical and strategic notes when presenting the faction’s views on the formulation of this bill.
Alimudin stated that the Outermost Small Islands are not merely economic entities, but rather the front porch of national sovereignty. Therefore, Alimudin noted, Gerindra requests that the articles regarding these islands are not dominated solely by a welfare-based approach.
The member of Commission VIII of the DPR stated that the draft law also needs to mandate security and defence approaches. “The development of navigation facilities, the strengthening of forward bases, and the presence of national defence elements must have strong justification,” Alimudin said during a meeting held at Commission XIII of the DPR.
Gerindra also highlighted provisions regarding the decentralisation of authority. This includes, for example, returning the authority to manage marine space from 0 to 4 miles to regencies and cities, as well as granting mining and certain licensing authorities to archipelagic local governments. According to Almuludin, these proposals have the potential to be inharmonious with regulations contained within the Law on Regional Government, the Mineral and Coal Law (Minerba), and the Job Creation Law.
Alimudin stated that to ensure the implementation of archipelagic regulations does not create inter-institutional disputes or uncertainty in the investment climate, Gerindra urges that this bill be communicated comprehensively.
Another substance receiving attention from Gerindra concerns the creation of a new funding source, the Special Archipelagic Fund, separate from general transfers. Alimudin stated that fiscal management and transfers to regions are currently strictly regulated through the Law on Financial Relations between the Central Government and Regional Governments.
According to Alimudin, the formation of new funding norms for the Special Archipelagic Fund must be carefully synchronised with the Ministry of Finance. “So that this nomenclature can be well-integrated into the budget structure without violating the law regarding state financial management,” he said.
The meeting, which lasted nearly two hours, was attended by nine members from seven factions. The meeting was directly led by the Chairperson of the Special Committee, Mercy Barends. The Working Team for the Archipelagic Region Bill from the Regional Representative Council (DPD), led by Andi Sofyan Hasdam, who serves as the driving force behind the proposed regulations, was also present.
Mercy stated that the meeting was also held to follow up on the Presidential Letter dated 12 January 2026 regarding the Archipelagic Region Bill, which mandates that the formulation of this law involves various ministries. Government representatives in attendance included Deputy Minister of Home Affairs Bima Arya, Deputy Minister of Law Edward Omar Sharif Hiariej, and Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Arif Havas Oegroseno.
Deputy Minister of Home Affairs Bima Arya stated that the government is paying attention to archipelagic issues by providing ease through policies that support regional development. Bima noted that the government needs to align the academic papers submitted by the DPD for harmonisation. “In order to address problems and overlapping regulations,” he said.
The DPD and all DPR factions agreed to bring the Archipelagic Region Bill to first-level discussions. Mercy Barends stated that discussions are expected to take place over three sessions. The government has requested time for cross-ministerial discussions to synchronise the articles of the draft law. “We will seek common ground on the core issues we face,” said Mercy.