Indonesia to Build Outermost Island, Avoid Malaysia's Territorial Claim

TheIndonesia.co - Riau Islands Provincial Government is set to build a lighthouse and helipad in one of Indonesia’s outermost Islands in order to prevent future territorial claims by Malaysia.

Along with the central government, the regional government is working to build the infrastructures in Karang Singa Island, which is located 3.70 sea miles from Tanjung Sadin in North Bintan District.

“Because [the island] is directly next to Malaysia and Singapore, we’re preventing any territorial claims,” Governor of Riau Islands Ansar Ahmad said in Tanjungpinang on Friday, November 26.

Riau’s geographical condition as a border area, he admitted, bears the risk of causing conflicts with the neighboring states. Therefore, the Ministry of Defense and the Ministry of Transportation will start the infrastructural development gradually, starting in 2022.

Conflicts over territorial claims have happened in the past between Indonesia and Malaysia, including when Malaysia claimed Sipadan and Ligitan Islands to be part of their state territory. The 2002 incident ended after the International Court of Justice concluded that most part of the two islands belongs to Malaysia.

In addition to that, Malaysia was also officially named as the rightful owner of Karang Tengah (Middle Rock), while Singapore owns Batu Putih (Pedra Branca).

The lighthouse and helipad are expected to become the outermost signs between Indonesia and Malaysia, as well as Singapore. The Governor also hoped that the central government will consider developing Karang Singa Island to become a tourism destination.

Previously, during his visit to Natuna, the Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs Mahfud MD reinstated the government’s commitment to build and empower the outermost regions in Indonesia. Aside from strengthening cooperation between ministries and state agencies in security, Indonesia also aims to accelerate economic conditions in those areas.