Maluku Highlights Urgency of Archipelagic Regions Bill

The discussion on the Archipelagic Regions Bill (RUU Daerah Kepulauan) continues to progress. As the bill’s proponents, the DPD RI Working Committee (Timja) together with the DPR RI Special Committee (Pansus) are gathering various aspirations from the Maluku Provincial Government and regional stakeholders to ensure the regulation can address the real needs of archipelagic communities.

This meeting with the Maluku Government is part of efforts to enrich the substance of the Archipelagic Regions Bill, which is currently being discussed jointly by the DPR RI Special Committee, the DPD RI Working Committee, and the Government. The various inputs provided are expected to strengthen policy support for regions with archipelagic geographical characteristics.

Deputy Chair of the DPD RI Archipelagic Regions Bill Working Committee, Graal Taliawo, emphasised that the struggle to present special regulations for archipelagic regions has been ongoing since 2017 and is now entering a crucial stage in the national legislative process.

‘The struggle to present the Archipelagic Regions Law has been a long journey. After being fought for over nine years, the discussion has now entered a crucial stage with the DPR RI Special Committee and the Government. However, the most important thing is that this Bill must remain grounded in the real needs of archipelagic regions and the people who live in them,’ said Graal during his speech in Ambon, Maluku, Monday, 20 July 2026.

Graal argued that regional visits are an important part of ensuring the Bill’s substance can address the various issues faced by archipelagic communities, ranging from inter-island connectivity and basic services to the management of marine potential.

This view received support from Maluku Governor Hendrik Lewerissa, who assessed that the presence of the Archipelagic Regions Bill is expected to deliver policies that are more favourable to archipelagic regions.

‘What we hope for from the Archipelagic Regions Bill is genuine support for archipelagic communities. Our challenges are different from mainland areas, ranging from connectivity and transport costs to public services that reach many islands. Therefore, we hope this Bill can deliver fairer policies that truly answer the needs of archipelagic communities,’ Hendrik stated.

Through this working visit, various inputs were deemed to be in line with the spirit championed by the DPR Special Committee and the DPD RI Working Committee through the Archipelagic Regions Bill, namely delivering more adaptive affirmative policies capable of addressing the unique challenges of archipelagic regions while promoting equitable development and improving the welfare of communities throughout Indonesia.