Minister of Maritime Affairs Declares Hundreds of Land Certificates in Tangerang’s Sea-Fenced Area Illegal

JAKARTA, investortrust.id – Indonesia’s Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, or KKP, Sakti Wahyu Trenggono, has declared that building-use rights and ownership rights certificates in the sea-fenced areas of Tangerang Regency, Banten, are illegal. He emphasized that no land certificates can exist on seabeds.

“I need to stress that certificates cannot be issued for seabeds. It is clearly illegal,” Sakti said after meeting with President Prabowo Subianto at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta on Monday, Jan. 20, 2025.

Sakti suspects the sea fences in Tangerang were constructed to encourage sedimentation, which could eventually form new land.

“These fences are likely intended to trap sediment. Over time, the sediment builds up, and when waves recede, they leave sediment behind, eventually forming land,” he explained.

According to Sakti, the certificates may have been issued as a legal basis for claiming the land once sedimentation leads to the formation of new land. He estimated that the reclaimed land resulting from this process could cover an area of approximately 30,000 hectares.

“This is akin to natural reclamation. Over time, as sedimentation progresses, new land forms. I reported to the President that this could span about 30,000 hectares,” Sakti said.

The Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries does not recognize the validity of these certificates. Sakti highlighted that constructing sea fences without obtaining a Marine Space Utilization Activity Permit (KKPRL) violates regulations.

“These certificates suddenly appear once the area transforms into land. However, as far as we are concerned, they are invalid because any activity in marine spaces requires permits. From the coastline to the sea, permits are mandatory,” he stressed.

President Prabowo has instructed the minister to thoroughly investigate the issue to ensure compliance with legal frameworks.

“The President directed us to conduct a comprehensive legal investigation. If no legal ownership exists, the land must be returned to the state,” Sakti said.

The resolution of this issue will involve multiple agencies, including the Indonesian Navy and the Maritime Security Agency (Bakamla). Sakti noted that collaboration is necessary to ensure all actions align with legal standards.

“If the land is not legally owned, it will revert to the state. Simultaneously, we will coordinate with all stakeholders to address this without errors,” he added.

Previously, the Minister of Agrarian Affairs and Spatial Planning/Head of the National Land Agency Nusron Wahid, confirmed the existence of 263 building-use rights certificates (SHGB) and 17 ownership rights certificates (SHM) in the sea-fenced area of Kohod Village, Tangerang, Banten. Nusron revealed that 234 SHGB certificates were issued under the name of PT Intan Agung Makmur and 20 under PT Cahaya Inti Sentosa.

“Nine other plots are registered under individual ownership, while 17 SHM certificates are also recorded,” Nusron stated during a press conference at the ATR/BPN Ministry office in South Jakarta on Monday, January 20, 2025.