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TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesian Minister of Transmigration Muhammad Iftitah Sulaiman Suryanagara assures that the local residents affected by the Rempang Eco City project in the Riau Islands can be absorbed as labor in the industries built in the area. He will accommodate them in a local transmigration program.
"I have spoken with representatives of the investors, from PT MEG (Makmur Elok Graha), they guarantee 100 percent. There will be training for them (Rempang residents) to enter the workforce," said Iftitah at the Ministry of Transmigration on Monday, March 24, 2025.
However, Iftitah mentioned that the transmigration program still provides other options. For example, if there are residents who do not want to work in the factory because of their background as fishermen, that will not be a problem. He will support these residents to continue their previous profession.
"If they want to be fishermen, we will provide incentives to strengthen that. If they want to farm, we will provide farming areas," said the Democratic Party politician. "So, they must not be uprooted from their way of life."
Iftitah initiated the local transmigration program in response to the stagnation of Rempang Eco City due to land conflicts with local residents, which have been ongoing since 2023. The Rempang area has potential for silica sand industries that can be developed.
The top graduate of the Military Academy in 1999 also claimed that the development of the Rempang transmigration area would be beneficial for the local community. Moreover, according to him, industries in Rempang Eco City have the potential to create 57,000 to 85,000 job opportunities.
Rempang Eco City is a National Strategic Project (PSN) inheritance from the 7th President Jokowi. The development of Rempang Eco City is a collaboration between the central government through BP Batam and the Batam City Government with PT MEG, a subsidiary of Artha Graha, a business group built by Tomy Winata.
In its development, PT MEG will prepare the island of Rempang as an integrated industrial, trade, and tourism area. Xinyi Group, a Chinese investor, will enter with an initial investment estimate of Rp 198 trillion.
However, along the way, Rempang Eco City faced rejection from the residents. Iftitah then expressed optimism that the transmigration program could be a way out of this issue. He will also seek certainty from Xinyi Group. Because, the investment plan signed since January 2024 has stalled. Moreover, Xinyi is reported to have revised its plans, so the possibility of entering Rempang will be in 2026.
"We have received an invitation to China to meet with investors and ensure that they will enter the Rempang Transmigration Area," said the Democratic Party politician. However, he did not specify when this visit to China would take place.
Iftitah will continue his steps to carry out local transmigration in Rempang despite facing criticism. Previously, the criticism came from the Institute for Public Wisdom and Policy, or the Lembaga Hikmah and Kebijakan Publik (LHKP) PP Muhammadiyah. Parid Ridwanuddin, a member of the Natural Resource Politics Division, criticized the program for deviating from President Prabowo's promise to evaluate the PSN.
Parid, who also advocates for the residents of Rempang Island, stated that local transmigration is not a solution. The root of the conflict in Rempang is the legal uncertainty for the residents. "The people are forced to yield in the name of a national strategic project," said Parid when contacted by Tempo on Friday, February 28, 2025.
If the government is serious and stands with the people, Parid stated, the evaluation of PSN Rempang and other PSNs must be realized. "If the statement is serious, it should not be just a facade," said the former Campaign Manager for the Coastal and Marine Campaign of the Wahana Lingkungan Hidup (Walhi) Nasional.
Economist and Director of Next Policy, Yusuf Wibisono, also stated that local transmigration of the residents affected by Rempang Eco City will not resolve the land conflict. "Local transmigration does not change the essence of displacement," said Yusuf to Tempo on Sunday, February 16, 2025.
Instead of local transmigration, according to Yusuf, the government should respect the rights of local residents, especially the right to housing and the right to decent work. The state must act fairly towards the village and local residents. "This means that investment must go hand in hand with local development," he said.
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