Government Halts Chinese-Owned Resort in Berau, Here's Why

The Directorate General of Marine and Fisheries Resources Supervision (PSDKP) of the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) has temporarily halted the construction of PT Storm Diving Resort (SDR), owned by a Chinese national, on Maratua Island in Berau, East Kalimantan.

Director General of PSDKP KKP, Pung Nugroho Saksono, stated that this action was taken because PT SDR violated regulations by establishing a business over marine waters or utilising beach areas without possessing the Agreement on the Suitability of Marine Space Utilisation Activities (PKKPRL) document.

“The PKKPRL document is mandatory for every business that utilises marine space,” he said on Maratua Island on Friday.

He noted that Maratua Island is a small island with an area of approximately 43.043 square kilometres. “The resort is a foreign direct investment (PMA) from China, but it is not equipped with the PKKPRL document,” he added.

He further explained that there are currently 16 resorts on Maratua, all of which have met the licensing requirements, except for PT SDR.

The Director General clarified that the violation committed by this resort constitutes an illegal act that will be subject to firm sanctions.

“We are enforcing the law on small and outer islands like Maratua as a manifestation of the state’s presence. We will not tolerate such violations. We raise the red and white flag to affirm that these islands are a legitimate part of the Republic of Indonesia’s territory,” he emphasised.