Gerindra Raises Critical Notes on Archipelagic Regions Bill

The House of Representatives’ cross-commission special committee began deliberating the Draft Law on Archipelagic Regions on Thursday, 25 June 2026. Gerindra Party politician Alimudin Kolatlena provided critical and strategic notes while presenting his faction’s views on the bill’s formulation. Alimudin stated that the Outermost Small Islands are not merely economic entities, but the front porch of sovereignty. Therefore, Gerindra requested that the article formulation concerning them not be dominated by a welfare approach. The member of House Commission VIII said the draft law must also mandate a security and defence approach. “The construction of navigation facilities, the strengthening of forward operating bases, and the presence of state defence elements must have strong justification,” Alimudin said during the meeting held at House Commission XIII. Gerindra also highlighted formulations concerning the decentralisation of authority. For instance, the return of authority for managing marine space from 0 to 4 miles to regencies and cities, as well as mining authority and certain permits to archipelagic regional governments. According to Alimudin, this proposal could potentially be inharmonious with regulations contained in the Regional Government Law, the Mineral and Coal Mining Law, and the Job Creation Law. Alimudin said that to ensure the implementation of archipelagic regulations does not create jurisdictional disputes between state institutions and create uncertainty in the investment climate, Gerindra urged that this bill be communicated comprehensively. Another substance that received Gerindra’s attention was the new funding for a Special Archipelagic Fund outside of 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 a new funding norm for the Special Archipelagic Fund must be carefully synchronised with the Ministry of Finance. “So that this nomenclature can be properly integrated into the budget structure without violating the law on state financial governance,” he said. The meeting, which lasted nearly two hours, was attended by nine members from seven factions. The meeting was chaired directly by Special Committee Chair Mercy Barends. The Regional Representative Council’s Archipelagic Regions Bill Working Team, led by Andi Sofyan Hasdam, which acted as the driving force behind the proposal and formulation of this regulation, was also present. Mercy said the meeting was also held to follow up on the Presidential Letter dated 12 January 2026 concerning the Archipelagic Regions Bill, which mandates that the formulation of this law involve cross-ministry collaboration. Government representatives in attendance included Deputy Minister 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 said the government is paying attention to the issue of archipelagic regions by providing facilities in the form of all policies that support regional development. Bima said the government needs to harmonise the academic paper submitted by the Regional Representative Council. “So that it answers the problems and overlapping regulations,” he said. The Regional Representative Council and all DPR factions agreed to bring the Archipelagic Regions Bill to the first-level discussion. Mercy Barends said the discussion is expected to be held over three session periods. The government requested time for cross-ministry discussions to synchronise the articles of the draft law. “We will find common ground on the issues that are the main problems,” said Mercy.