Preserving 37 Traditional Villages Amid Batam's Modernisation

BATAM is synonymous with the roar of industrial machinery, bustling international ports, and ever-growing skyscrapers. As a Free Trade Zone, the island has become a magnet for global investment, rapidly transforming its urban landscape. Yet, nestled between the expansion of concrete and toll roads, lie the first traces of life far older than Batam’s status as an industrial city: the Kampung Tua, or traditional villages. These are not merely clusters of wooden houses on the coast. They are a collective memory, a space where the identity of Batam’s Melayu community endures, and a silent witness to the island’s origins before the surge of modern development took over. Recognising the importance of safeguarding this heritage, the Batam City Government is now strengthening legal protection measures through the drafting of a Regional Regulation on the Management of Kampung Tua. For years, the existence of 37 Kampung Tua sites in Batam relied solely on a Mayor’s Decree. While this provided initial recognition, this legal basis was deemed insufficiently robust to withstand the dynamics of the city’s massive development. The demand for space for infrastructure and investment frequently clashes with the boundaries of these customary territories. Batam City Regional Secretary, Firmansyah, asserted that the transition from a Mayor’s Decree to a Regional Regulation is a crucial step to provide long-term legal certainty for residents. He stated that the current basis for designating Kampung Tua still uses a Mayor’s Decree, and it must be strengthened through a Regional Regulation to ensure stronger legal certainty and serve as a guideline for its management and arrangement. With a Regional Regulation in place, Kampung Tua will no longer be viewed as areas that hinder development, but rather as an integral part of the city’s spatial planning that must be protected and developed sustainably. Batam’s development, led by Mayor Amsakar Achmad and Deputy Mayor Li Claudia Chandra, is directed towards creating a balance. On one hand, Batam must continue to compete as a modern city of international standard. On the other, its cultural roots must not be severed. The draft Regional Regulation on Kampung Tua Management is designed to regulate several strategic points. Firmansyah added that Kampung Tua is part of the historical footprint of Batam’s growth. Therefore, its management must be carried out in a directed manner so that the historical, cultural, and community identity values are maintained amidst the encroachment of industry. The process of drafting this regulation is not conducted behind closed doors. The Batam City Government emphasised the importance of public consultation to absorb aspirations directly from the grassroots. This forum involves various elements, from academics, customary leaders, and community figures, to representatives from the 37 Kampung Tua themselves. Firmansyah explained that input from the community and stakeholders is very important so that the regulation drafted truly meets the needs on the ground. Through this input, the academic paper for the draft regulation will be refined before being submitted to the Batam City Regional People’s Representative Council for further discussion. Some areas included in the Kampung Tua category include Tanjung Riau, Nongsa Pantai, Teluk Lengung, Bagan, Tanjung Piayu Laut, and dozens of other points scattered across the coastal areas of Batam Island and its surrounding islands. This move by the Batam City Government is expected to become a new milestone in the preservation of Melayu culture in the Riau Islands. With strong regulations, Kampung Tua are expected to transform into well-organised, clean areas that still firmly uphold tradition. This also opens opportunities for culture-based creative economic development that can improve the welfare of local residents. Ultimately, preserving Kampung Tua means preserving the soul of Batam City. Amidst the ever-growing skyscrapers, these first footprints must continue to stand firm as a reminder of the city’s origins and identity.