Less than two months before the end of his term, President Joko Widodo issued another controversial policy that is seen as detrimental to the people.
The policy permits sea sand exports under Government Regulation (PP) No. 26 of 2023 concerning the Management of Sedimentation Products in the sea.
This policy starkly contrasts with the previous administration of President Megawati, which banned sea sand exports in 2003 through Ministerial Decree No. 117/MPP/Kep/2/2003 on the Temporary Cessation of Sea Sand Exports.
“President Jokowi argues that what is being exported is not sea sand but sediment products from the sea, which are the same in form, consisting of a mixture of soil and water,” said Dr. Fahmy Radhi at UGM Campus, Thursday (Sep. 19).
As a UGM economic and energy expert, he believes that dredging sea sand has adverse effects on the environment and marine ecology. It could even lead to the sinking of islands, which would pose a danger to coastal communities.
This policy could marginalize fishermen, preventing them from going to sea. Even if the sea sand export policy is intended to increase state revenue, he deems it inappropriate.
“The Ministry of Finance has acknowledged that state revenue from marine exports, including sea sand, has been minimal. Meanwhile, the costs associated with exporting sea sand are significantly higher,” he explained.
He pointed out that the imbalance between the costs of exporting sea sand and the revenue generated makes the policy unsustainable. The environmental and ecological damages, along with the costs they entail, must be considered.
“Not to mention the threat of sinking islands, which would harm coastal communities, including fishermen who can no longer fish,” he added.
Dr. Radhi noted that Singapore is the only country likely to purchase Indonesian sea sand, which it uses for land reclamation.
He called it highly ironic that dredging Indonesian sea sand could lead to the submersion of islands and shrinking of Indonesia’s land area, while Singapore’s land area expands through reclamation using Indonesia’s sea sand.
“If this happens, it will inevitably affect the maritime borders between Indonesia and Singapore,” he stated.
Dr. Radhi urged the government to halt the export of sea sediment immediately even though Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Sakti Wahyu Trenggono has stated that Indonesia is not selling the country by exporting sea sand.
“The reality is that exporting sea sand effectively sells our land and water, which normatively represents the country. Therefore, stop this policy,” he concluded.
Author: Agung Nugroho
Post-editor: Afif
Photo: SWA.co.id