When Neighbouring Countries "Shout" After Purbaya Jokes About Tolling the Malacca Strait
JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - A statement from Indonesian Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa regarding the idea of imposing a tariff on the Malacca Strait has stirred controversy all the way to the neighbouring country.
“Iran is now planning to impose fees on ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz. If we divide it into three—Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore—the value could be very large. Our territory is the widest and longest,” said Purbaya on Wednesday (22/4/2026).
According to Purbaya, this proposal aligns with the directive from President Prabowo Subianto for Indonesia to no longer view itself as a peripheral nation, but as a major player in the global economy.
Indonesia’s neighbouring countries then gave a strong reaction and rejected Purbaya’s idea.
Malaysia’s Foreign Minister, Mohamad Hasan, emphasised that the Malacca Strait is managed based on a joint agreement between Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, and Thailand.
Therefore, no single country has the right to determine policies unilaterally.
“Anything that will be done in the Malacca Strait must involve cooperation among the four countries. That is our understanding—it cannot be done unilaterally,” he said on Wednesday (22/4/2026) at a forum in Kuala Lumpur, as quoted by The Straits Times.
This principle has been the basis since the beginning of the cooperation on patrols and security in the Malacca Strait.
“The right of transit passage is guaranteed for all parties,” he said at an event in Singapore.
“We will not participate in any efforts to close, hinder, or impose tariffs in our area,” said Vivian.
She also stressed that freedom of navigation is a right guaranteed by international law, particularly the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
“The right of transit passage is not a privilege granted by coastal states. It is not a licence to be subjected. It is not a tariff to be paid. It is a right for all ships from all countries to pass through,” she asserted.