Holiday Ayo - The Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) has again temporarily sealed marine space utilization activities for resorts on the outermost islands of the Republic of Indonesia that do not have complete permits. 

With this, the KKP exposed the methods used by foreign companies to annex islands in Indonesia. The sealing is intended to protect the islands from being seized by foreign companies. 

The Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries recently sealed two resorts located on Maratua Island, Berau, East Kalimantan because they allegedly did not have documents for Approval of Conformity for Marine Spatial Utilization Activities (PKKPRL) permits.

The two resorts are managed by PT MID and PT NMR, which are foreign companies. Director General of Marine Resources and Fisheries Supervision (PSDKP) Pung Nugroho Saksono said that the absence of permits regarding the use of space on the outermost islands is an indication of efforts to usurp ownership of islands in the country.

Referring to the case of the annexation of Sipadan Island and Ligitan Island, he explained that the method used by many foreign companies was to carry out development, whether resorts or other tourism sector businesses, on these islands through foreign investment (PMA).

The man who is familiarly called Ipunk said that initially the construction and operation of the resort used workers from Indonesia, especially local residents.

However, in the end these workers were dismissed or laid off. Gradually, the Indonesian population who occupied the island moved to other places and eventually the shortage of workers was replaced by foreigners.

"The method, as previously happened in Sipadan and Ligitan, was that the island was managed by PMA. Then the employees were Indonesians, Indonesian citizens. Well, gradually these employees, especially Indonesian citizens, were laid off one by one," said Ipunk in a press conference at the KKP, Monday (23/9), reported detikfinance.

"Until the layoffs are finished, the foreigners are filled in. So the island has no more Indonesians. It's all foreigners, they claim it is theirs," he added.

Ipunk explained that foreign companies will create or compile simple statistical data as proof of their claim that Indonesia's outer islands belong to them.

Starting from the number of trees on the island to other data that the government does not have.

"They will have statistical data later on that we won't have if we are careless. The statistical data they have is simple, how many trees for example, then what kind of stones are there, they have all that. In fact, maybe if he now builds a bridge, how much wood will he need? he uses or bamboo," he said.

It is with this statistical data that foreign companies can claim that the island is theirs. Not to mention, there are no licensing documents from the government or the presence of foreign nationals (WNA) on the island makes it difficult for the Indonesian government to prove ownership.