TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Wali Nanggroe Aceh Malik Mahmud Al Haythar stated that if the government does not return four islands to Aceh, there could be a conflict between Aceh and North Sumatra. The traditional leader said that during the territorial dispute, the people of Aceh are becoming increasingly angry.
"What is feared is that there will be unrest between North Sumatra and Aceh. This is actually unnecessary," he said during a meeting with former President Jusuf Kalla in the Kebayoran Baru area of South Jakarta on Tuesday night, June 17, 2025.
According to Malik, they raised the Aceh flag on the four islands, namely Pulau Panjang, Pulau Lipan, Pulau Mangkir Gadang and Pulau Mangkir Ketek. He explained that these islands have long been part of Aceh's administrative area, even since the Dutch colonial era. Therefore, if the decision is made to move the four islands to the territory of North Sumatra, Malik mentioned that the people of Aceh would surely protest vehemently.
If this conflict is allowed to continue, he is worried about the potential impact. "As I said earlier, this will turn into a tribal war between North Sumatra and Aceh. This will cause division in Indonesia," he said.
However, he conveyed that the news of the return of the four islands to Aceh immediately eased tensions among the local community. "Hopefully everything will be calm. If not, then it will be a bit heated. That's also what I'm worried about, because we shouldn't scratch old wounds," said Malik.
He also expressed his gratitude to President Prabowo Subianto, Minister of Home Affairs Tito Karnavian, and Jusuf Kalla, whom he considered to have helped resolve this polemic. Malik admitted his joy at the four islands returning to the embrace of Aceh.
Prior to this, President Prabowo Subianto decided that the four disputed islands between Aceh and North Sumatra (Sumut) would fall under the administrative area of Aceh, after previously being under Sumut. This determination is based on administrative documents held by the government.
"Based on the documents, the government has made the decision that the 4 islands belong to Aceh," said State Secretary Minister Prasetyo Hadi at the President's Office in Jakarta on Tuesday, June 17, 2025.
Prabowo led a limited meeting via video conference during his trip to St. Petersburg, Russia, on Tuesday. The limited meeting was attended by Minister of Home Affairs Tito Karnavian, State Secretary/Judicial Spokesperson of the President of the Republic of Indonesia Prasetyo Hadi, Governor of Aceh Muzakir Manaf, Governor of North Sumatra Bobby Nasution, and Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Sufmi Dasco Ahmad.
The Minister of Home Affairs explained the government's reason for deciding that the 4 disputed islands fall under the jurisdiction of Aceh. Tito stated that the original document containing the agreement between the Governor of Aceh and the Governor of North Sumatra in 1992 was found. This document confirms that the four islands fall under Aceh's jurisdiction.
Tito mentioned that the original document was found in the Ministry of Home Affairs Archives Building in Pondok Kelapa, East Jakarta on Monday, June 17, 2025. "Three buildings were sifted through and the original documents of the agreement between the two governors were found," he said.
Hendrik Yaputra, Eka Yudha Saputra, and Sapto Yunus contributed to the writing of this article.
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