Indonesian Regional Representative Council (DPD RI) Speaker, Sultan Bachtiar Najamudin has called for the swift passage of the Islands Bill, expressing hope that the legislation will serve as a meaningful gift to communities living in island regions.
Sultan said he had reminded President Prabowo Subianto and House of Representatives (DPR RI) leaders of the importance of advancing deliberations on the bill. He said the DPD had championed the legislation from the outset to ensure the state could better serve communities in hard-to-reach areas.
“I have emphasized that the Islands Bill is a genuine effort by the DPD to ensure the state is present in places that are difficult to reach,” Sultan told reporters at the parliamentary complex in Senayan, Jakarta, on Thursday, October 8, 2026.
He argued that the current system for allocating government funding to island regions remained inequitable. In particular, he criticized the calculation of the General Allocation Fund (DAU), which he said was still largely based on population figures.
Island regions, however, face distinct geographical challenges and infrastructure needs that differ significantly from those of mainland areas, he said.
“The DPD has long viewed the state’s budget allocation system, particularly the General Allocation Fund and other transfers from the state budget, as unfair because it is based primarily on population,” Sultan said.
He stressed that island regions, many of which have distinct geographical characteristics, should receive funding arrangements tailored to their specific infrastructure needs.
“Island regions are numerous and should not be treated in the same way as other areas. Their infrastructure needs differ from those of mainland regions, many of which are already relatively developed,” he said.
Sultan Hopes Bill Will Be Passed Soon
Sultan said the president had previously indicated that the Islands Bill was already under discussion between the House of Representatives and the government. He added that he had recently met with House leaders to reiterate the need to move the legislation forward.
“We also met with House leaders yesterday morning to reiterate the same point, and they agreed that the bill is long overdue and deserves to become law in Indonesia,” he said.
Sultan expressed hope that deliberations would soon be concluded, targeting passage of the bill after the next parliamentary recess.
“We therefore hope that, in the near future, perhaps after the next parliamentary recess, the bill can be passed into law as one of the best gifts for communities in island regions,” he concluded.
