Presidential Instruction to Accelerate Development of Enggano Island Promotes Equitable Growth in Outermost Regions
By: Rivka Mayangsari
(Strategic Issues Observer)
The Indonesian government has once again demonstrated its commitment to equitable national development through a strategic initiative long awaited by communities in the country’s outermost regions. President of the Republic of Indonesia, Prabowo Subianto, has signed a Presidential Instruction (Inpres) on the Acceleration of Development on Enggano Island, located in Bengkulu Province. This Inpres marks a significant milestone in the effort to accelerate infrastructure development and improve basic services on one of the most remote yet strategically located islands in the Indian Ocean.
The signing of the Inpres was the result of a coordination meeting between the President and the House of Representatives (DPR), represented by Deputy Speaker Sufmi Dasco Ahmad. In the meeting, various issues concerning Enggano Island were discussed in depth, particularly those related to the region’s isolation and the problems surrounding port infrastructure.
Sufmi Dasco Ahmad revealed that the development acceleration initiative followed aspirations conveyed by the public, brought forward by PDI-P legislator Rieke Diah Pitaloka, who had previously visited Enggano Island. He added that he and DPR Speaker Puan Maharani engaged in intensive communication with the President to raise the issue of port siltation, which has severely disrupted economic activity on the island. He emphasized that the matter required immediate attention and intervention by the central government.
He further explained that the DPR has coordinated with several related ministries to allocate roles and synchronize responsibilities for implementing the development program. According to him, the Inpres serves as a vital legal framework to ensure that development can be carried out effectively and in a focused manner.
Meanwhile, DPR Speaker Puan Maharani stated that the DPR has urged the government to conduct a comprehensive evaluation of governance and administration across Indonesia’s islands. She stressed the importance of early mitigation efforts to anticipate potential problems in archipelagic regions. She also emphasized that the DPR would continue to monitor these improvements through its relevant commissions.
Support and appreciation for President Prabowo’s decision also came from the Chairman of the Regional Representative Council (DPD RI), Sultan B. Najamudin. He expressed that the President’s swift decision in addressing Enggano’s issues deserves recognition as a clear demonstration of governmental attention and oversight toward basic public needs, particularly regarding accessibility—an issue long hampered by siltation at Pulau Baai Port in Bengkulu.
Sultan also conveyed that the people of Bengkulu appreciate the President’s decision, which they regard as evidence of the state’s presence among communities living in the outermost and front-line islands. He emphasized that the problems on Enggano directly affect the lives of its people, who depend heavily on maritime transportation as the backbone of their economy.
According to him, Enggano holds vast potential in agriculture, fisheries, and livestock, including banana and cattle production, which are essential food sources for Bengkulu Province. He highlighted the critical role that port infrastructure and the availability of public transport vessels play for island communities.
Sultan also reminded the public that there are many other regions like Enggano that deserve similar attention. He stressed that the DPD RI, as an institution, will continue pushing for the swift passage of the Island Regions Bill (RUU Daerah Kepulauan), which would provide a strong legal foundation to protect the rights of local communities and promote equal access to public services in outlying areas.
The government’s commitment was also reinforced by State Secretary Prasetyo Hadi, who confirmed that President Prabowo Subianto had officially signed the Inpres as part of a broader effort to uphold sovereignty and ensure equitable national development. He added that this step is concrete proof of the government’s attention to marginalized regions.
Rieke Diah Pitaloka drew attention to Enggano Island’s urgent need for support, even backing calls from various groups, including the Indigenous Peoples Alliance of the Archipelago (AMAN) in Bengkulu, to declare the island in a state of emergency. She believes that swift government action would be a tangible show of the nation’s commitment to people in the most disadvantaged areas.
With the issuance of this Presidential Instruction, development on Enggano Island is expected to go beyond physical infrastructure. It aims to strengthen basic services, open up economic access, and sustainably improve community welfare. This Inpres stands as a strong symbol that no part of the nation will be left behind, and that development justice must reach all citizens—from urban centers to remote islands like Enggano.
More than that, the Inpres signals a shift in the national development paradigm—from a centralized to a decentralized model. Now, regions once considered distant and neglected are being recognized as key components of national resilience, territorial sovereignty, and Indonesia’s just and inclusive future.
The government is thus urged to ensure that the implementation of this Inpres does not stall at the administrative level but is fully realized through tangible development outcomes that directly benefit the people. Through inter-ministerial collaboration, oversight from both DPR and DPD, and community involvement, Enggano Island has the potential to become a model for successful outer-region development that can be replicated across other parts of the Indonesian archipelago
