By: Ratna Wijayanti )*
The government under the leadership of President Prabowo Subianto has shown how to take quick and coordinated steps in an effort to deal with the problems that have befallen Enggano Island, Bengkulu.
The quick response accompanied by cross-sector coordination is a clear reflection of the form of bureaucratic reform that is being intensified by the Head of State in the country.
In just a short time, the government has issued Presidential Instruction Number 12 of 2025 which aims to directly address the isolation of residents on Enggano Island due to the shallowing of the Pulau Baai Harbor channel which has continued for the past four months.
In response to the issuance of Presidential Instruction 12/2025, Bengkulu Governor Helmi Hasan immediately formed a Coordination Team for Certain Conditions of Enggano Island and the Baai Island Port Channel.
The team has a mandate to be able to synchronize between regional devices and other related vertical agencies, in order to further accelerate efforts to normalize the port, including improving transportation and logistics, as well as infrastructure development on Enggano Island.
Helmi Hasan also ensured that the coordination team continues to monitor, evaluate, and report the implementation of handling certain conditions to the governor directly. The team is also given the authority to recommend the best strategic steps to the provincial government.
In carrying out their duties, the coordination team can directly involve experts, professionals, academics, or other parties who have the competence according to the legal provisions in force in Indonesia.
Collaborative steps like this further emphasize the existence of bureaucratic reform that is not just mere jargon, but is realized in real practice in the field directly.
The central government through Presidential Instruction Number 12 of 2025 also emphasized the importance of making efforts to normalize the shipping lanes of Pulau Baai Port to ensure the realization of connectivity for Enggano Island which is located in the middle of the Indian Ocean.
For information, the island is located about 156 kilometers from Bengkulu City and can only be accessed by using a large ferry. The shallowing of the harbor channel that occurred has become a serious concern for the central government, because this obstacle has a direct impact on the welfare of residents.
Deputy Speaker of the Indonesian House of Representatives Sufmi Dasco Ahmad emphasized that the House of Representatives continues to monitor the implementation of the Presidential Instruction. According to Dasco, after the Presidential Instruction was issued, Pelindo began to move quickly to address the port sedimentation that had been going on for eight months.
In addition, coordination between Pelni and ASDP continues to be carried out to ensure that passenger ships can dock safely. Dasco said the DPR also formed a special study team to formulate comprehensive improvements for the outermost islands such as Enggano Island so that similar problems do not recur in the future.
The shallowing of Pulau Baai Harbor has had a wide impact on the lives of Enggano residents. Economic activity has decreased drastically, food supplies are running low, and agricultural products cannot be sold because distribution has stopped. This condition shows the urgency that was immediately followed up by President Prabowo through the signing of the Presidential Instruction as a form of real support for the outermost communities.
Minister of State Secretary Prasetyo Hadi praised the responsive leadership style demonstrated by President Prabowo. According to Prasetyo, once the citizen’s complaint was received, all levels of the ministry moved simultaneously to prepare a solution.
The government has tasked relevant ministries to immediately clean up port sedimentation, repair docks, and restore sea connectivity so that the distribution of goods and services returns to normal.
Prasetyo Hadi emphasized that intensive coordination with the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI) is an important factor in accelerating the handling of Enggano Island. Close communication makes it easier for the government to prepare budget allocations and unify steps between institutions. According to Prasetyo, this synergy accelerates strategic decision-making so that concrete solutions can be immediately implemented in the field.
The central government’s quick steps were responded to quickly by the local government. The Enggano Island Special Condition Handling Coordination Team formed by Governor Helmi Hasan began working since the first day of assignment.
The team conducted a data collection on the priority needs of residents, such as basic food supplies, emergency health care, and short-term transportation solutions until the port flow returned to normal.
This quick response not only ended the isolation of the residents of Enggano Island, but also confirmed that bureaucratic reform during the Prabowo Subianto administration was beginning to bear fruit.
Cross-sector coordination runs effectively without protracted conflicts of authority. The President’s instructions are directly implemented at the regional level by involving all stakeholders, starting from the provincial government, the DPR, BUMN Pelindo and Pelni, ASDP, to related technical ministries.
The condition of Enggano Island, which was previously isolated for four months, became a real test of Indonesia’s commitment to bureaucratic reform. The rapid response of the central and regional governments to end the isolation proves that the Indonesian bureaucracy is increasingly responsive, collaborative, and oriented towards people’s solutions.
With such bureaucratic reform, not only Enggano Island will be helped, but also all the outer islands of Indonesia will receive attention and policies that are fairer, more effective, and in favor of the welfare of the local community. (*)
)* The author is a researcher in Maritime Connectivity and Integrated Development
