House Special Committee Discusses Special Island Region Fund

The Special Committee (Pansus) of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI) is discussing the mechanism for a special island region fund as part of the deliberation of the Bill on Special Island Regions. The discussions took place while gathering input from local government, academics, and stakeholders in Maluku Province. Committee Chair Mercy Chriesty Barends stated in Ambon on Monday that the working visit was part of drafting the bill, which prioritises the principle of meaningful participation. According to Mercy, one of the key inputs under consideration is the regulation of a special island region fund as an instrument to accelerate development in archipelagic areas without conflicting with existing laws and regulations. “We are formulating the mechanism for the special island region fund so that it does not clash with existing laws, but rather strengthens them through harmonisation. The goal is to address development gaps in island regions,” she said. She noted that the bill is expected to provide a legal foundation for achieving equitable development, improving public services, strengthening inter-island connectivity, and offering protection for the outermost, frontier, and disadvantaged islands. She added that island regions hold a strategic position in the development of the blue economy, requiring policies that consider their geographical, social, and economic characteristics. Beyond fiscal aspects, the committee also received input regarding the protection of the rights of coastal communities, local communities, and indigenous legal communities as part of the bill’s substance. Once the aspiration-gathering phase is complete, the committee will proceed to the first-level discussion through the review of the Problem Inventory List submitted by the government and DPR factions.