President Returns Four Islands to Aceh, a Wise Step for Legal Certainty and National Integration
By: Fajar Dwi Santoso
President Prabowo Subianto’s decision to return four islands that were previously disputed between Aceh and North Sumatra Provinces has received a positive response from various groups. The four islands in question are Panjang Island, Lipan Island, Mangkir Gadang Island, and Mangkir Ketek Island. This decision is considered a wise step that not only resolves administrative polemics but also strengthens the spirit of national integration.
This boundary polemic had sparked tension, especially after the Ministry of Home Affairs (Kemendagri) issued a Decree of the Minister of Home Affairs dated April 25, 2025, which stipulated that the four islands were within the territory of North Sumatra. However, President Prabowo, based on supporting documents and data submitted by the Ministry of Home Affairs, decided to stipulate the four islands as part of the administrative territory of Aceh Province.
The Minister of State Secretary, Prasetyo Hadi, emphasized that the President’s decision had been through in-depth study. He stated that the four islands were administratively within the territory of Aceh, as stated in official government documents. This statement became a formal basis that ended the uncertainty of the region’s status and became concrete evidence of the government’s commitment to responding to regional aspirations.
The President’s move was appreciated by the Executive Director of the Regional Autonomy Implementation Monitoring Committee (KPPOD), Herman N Suparman. He considered the decision to provide legal certainty and open up space for the Aceh Government to carry out development in areas that were previously still in an administrative gray area. According to him, this resolution should be an important lesson for the central government to formulate stricter regional boundary guidelines.
Herman added that polemics like this could have been avoided if from the start there were clear criteria regarding administrative boundaries between regions. He encouraged the Ministry of Home Affairs to formulate new regulations that take into account historical, geographical, and sociological aspects in determining regional boundaries. In addition, he also emphasized the importance of updating the Law on Regional Formation so that it no longer contains articles that are open to multiple interpretations. According to him, regional boundaries should be formulated in a “clean and clear” manner in official regulations so as not to create gaps in interpretation that could trigger conflicts in the future.
The Governor of Aceh, Muzakir Manaf, welcomed the President’s decision. According to him, this is a real form of respect for the sovereignty of the Aceh region within the framework of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia. He hopes that the decision will end the prolonged debate and become a momentum to accelerate development in the coastal areas of Aceh. Muzakir also emphasized that although the issue of territorial boundaries is administrative, its impact touches the emotional aspects of society, so that the President’s decision provides social peace for the people of Aceh.
Meanwhile, the Governor of North Sumatra, Bobby Nasution, showed a mature and statesmanlike attitude. He emphasized that the relationship between Aceh and North Sumatra must remain harmonious because both are part of one nation. He also appealed to the people of North Sumatra not to be easily provoked by the decision. In fact, Bobby said that the two provincial governments had signed a joint decree as a form of understanding and political maturity in responding to administrative differences.
Chairman of Commission II of the Indonesian House of Representatives, Muhammad Rifqinizami Karsayuda, also praised President Prabowo’s decision. He stated that the step showed the government’s commitment to maintaining legal certainty and the integrity of Indonesia’s territory. According to him, the decision was based on various fundamental considerations, ranging from legal, historical, to sociological aspects. This decision, said Rifqi, also shows that the government is not acting unilaterally, but rather through a holistic approach involving various official documents and previously existing agreements.
Rifqi added that Commission II of the DPR from the start gave full trust to President Prabowo to resolve the polemic. By determining the four islands as part of Aceh, Commission II sees that this decision is able to reduce tensions between Jakarta and Aceh, as well as maintain the integrity of the Republic of Indonesia. Furthermore, he emphasized that Commission II of the DPR RI will encourage the acceleration of the revision of the regional formation law in order to avoid future boundary disputes.
As a follow-up to this decision, Minister of Home Affairs Tito Karnavian ensured that he would immediately revise the 2025 Kepmendagri Decree concerning the updating of codes and data for government administrative areas. The revision will return the four islands to the scope of the Aceh Singkil Regency area. This step also refers to theand an agreement between the Aceh and North Sumatra Governments in 1992, which was strengthened by the Decree of the Minister of Home Affairs No. 111 of 1992.
Not only that, the Geospatial Information Agency (BIG) will also update the national administrative map and submit the update to international forums such as the United Nations Conference on the Standardization of Geographical Names (UNCSGN). This indicates that the President’s decision not only has an impact domestically, but also strengthens Indonesia’s position in the eyes of the world in terms of regional planning based on law and data.
President Prabowo’s decision to return the four islands to Aceh Province not only resolves administrative disputes, but also becomes a strong symbol of responsive, fair leadership that upholds the principles of territorial integrity. This step shows that the state is present to resolve strategic issues with a legal and deliberation approach, without sacrificing national stability. With this spirit, the hope for the birth of similar policies in the future is increasingly wide open, especially in efforts to strengthen regional autonomy and ensure the unity of Indonesia from Sabang to Merauke.
)* National Political Observer – Mandala Raya Political Forum
