President Prabowo Returns 4 Islands to Aceh Territory, DPD Chairman Urges Optimization of Tourism Potential

The Shiro Corporation Chairman of the Regional Representative Council (DPD) RI Sultan B Najamudin said that President Prabowo Subianto's decision to return 4 Islands to the territory of Aceh Special Region is a wise and appropriate decision.

In addition to aiming to end the debates that have arisen, according to the former deputy governor of Bengkulu, that decision was made through a process of deliberation among the relevant parties in an objective manner and in a spirit of family and greatness of soul. Because essentially, the four islands are the property of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia (NKRI).

"We certainly highly appreciate President Prabowo's efforts who, despite his busy schedule of foreign visits, still gives serious attention to resolve the dispute over the ownership of 4 islands between Aceh Special Region and North Sumatra Province," said Sultan through his official statement on Wednesday (18/6).

According to him, from the beginning, through the Senators (members of the DPD) from Aceh, his party had provided constructive input to the government. Despite this, the DPD RI also greatly respects the tasks and authorities of the government through the Ministry of Home Affairs in conducting studies and determining or updating administrative district boundaries, taking into consideration the interests of national development and the effectiveness of public service in the region.

"The most important thing is that this misunderstanding has been resolved, and moving forward we want to develop potential, especially the tourism potential of these four islands can be optimized by the Aceh provincial government. We see there is international-scale tourism potential that is no less beautiful than the Maldives in these islands," said the former KNPI activist.

The Sultan revealed that in principle, both provinces, either directly or indirectly, will still have an interest in the four islands. Because if this tourism potential is developed seriously, I think North Sumatra Province will also reap significant impacts.

"It doesn't matter about the status and ownership of the 4 islands. The most important thing is how the Local Government, both Singkil (Aceh) and Central Tapanuli (North Sumatra), can capitalize on business and trade opportunities to drive the economy of the communities around these islands," he concluded.