Appreciating the Government’s Steps to Successfully Overcome the Conflict on Rempang Island
A number of parties appreciate the steps taken by the Government in dealing with the agrarian conflict on Rempang Island. The government is considered successful in digging into the root of the problem and providing certainty to local communities who previously held demonstrations regarding the rejection of the relocation of the Rempang Eco City project.
Member of Commission VI DPR RI, Abdul Hakim Bafagih said that the problem solving carried out by the Minister of Investment /BKPM, Bahlil Lahadalia , deserves to be appreciated and used as an example, especially the approach taken in the form of visiting people’s homes directly to explore the root of the problem.
The government is also considered to have mitigated the problem very appropriately and extraordinary because it dared to face it directly and openly in conveying the objectives of the Rempang Eco City project so that there were no misunderstandings or communication gaps that had not been conveyed to the local community.
Furthermore , Abdul Hakim Bafagih supports Minister Bahlil Lahadalia ‘s efforts so that investment in Rempang Island can run well after the end of the agrarian conflict. Abdul asked the Government not to ignore traditional rights and the rights of local communities. Because according to him, investment in the Rempang project will support the improvement of the national economy, especially the economy on Rempang Island. Both the public and investors will benefit from getting certainty and fair treatment from the Government.
Minister Bahlil Lahadalia ‘s decision to relocate residents is also the right step, because the residents’ livelihoods will not die and residents can still continue their activities, whether as fishermen, farmers or others. That way, the Rempang Eco City project can still be realized well.
Then, in order to improve the economy on Rempang Island, Abdul Hakim also asked the Government to utilize special locations on Rempang Island to become tourist attractions, both natural tourism and religious tourism by facilitating the community with ancestral graves.
On the other hand, the Head of the Batam Concession Agency (BP), Muhammad Rudi, also expressed his appreciation to the Minister of Investment / BKPM, Bahlil Lahadia for prioritizing accelerated development on Rempang Island. Muhammad Rudi did not expect that the Minister of Investment would step in directly to handle the conflict between residents and security forces in Batam City.
Muhammad Rudi added that Bahlil Lahadalia’s presence in directly inspecting the Rempang location could resolve the conflict and accelerate investment in the Rempang Eco City project. Not only that, he also emphasized that BP Batam will be committed to and support the Government’s efforts to accelerate the realization of regional development and investment on Rempang Island.
As many as 70 percent of residents on Rempang Island agreed to be relocated during the construction of the project to temporary residences that had been prepared by BP Batam. The residents made the decision to move voluntarily and was their personal decision without any coercion from the government.
A native of Pasir Panjang Village, Syum Harimaryatullah or Nek Syum , said that his family’s decision to agree to be relocated was because they wanted to fully support the Government’s program in developing the Rempang Eco City project for the future of their area, especially the future of their children and grandchildren in the future.
Apart from Nek Syum , Desi Darmawati , a native of Pulau Panjang Village, also decided to relocate to temporary housing . According to him, Rempang Eco City, which is currently being built by the Government, is a very important program because it can have a positive impact on Rempang residents, especially on the economic progress of its residents. He and his family want to improve their standard of living, so they hope that the government will speed up the project development process.
The large number of residents who wanted to move made the Head of BP Batam ‘s Promotion and Protocol Public Relations Bureau , Ariastuty Sirait, give a thumbs up to the Government because he was considered successful in handling the relocation conflict on Rempang Island.
According to him, BP Batam will be committed to assisting the Government in approaching residents affected by industrial development on Rempang Island. This approach will be carried out by BP Batam by prioritizing persuasive communication during outreach and data collection.
Not only prominent figures, the General Chair of the Local Indigenous Community ( Keramat ), Gerisman Ahmad also gave his support and appreciation to the Government for the construction of the Rempang Eco City project which was being carried out. He said the community believes in the Government that with the construction of this project the Rempang community will feel a positive impact.
Apart from that , Gerisman also advised the community to keep the situation in Rempang conducive so that investors remain comfortable in realizing their investments in this development project. Residents represented by community leaders also agreed and supported the development of Rempang Eco City.
That way, the public does not need to worry about the Rempang Eco City project being carried out by the Government. The benefit of building this project for local communities is that there will be an increase in labor absorption which will in turn improve their quality of life and welfare . The government has also committed to guaranteeing that people’s rights will be fulfilled if they participate in supporting the development of Rempang Eco City without any obstacles.
