Inter-island connectivity is a key issue in the deliberations on the Islands Region Bill. Adequate transportation is essential to ensuring equitable access to basic services and supporting economic activities in local communities.
This was stated by Hendry Munief, a member of the Special Committee on the Islands Region Bill of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI), during a working visit by the DPR RI Special Committee and the Regional Representative Council (DPD RI) working team to North Maluku on Wednesday, September 30, 2026.
He explained that the visit was conducted to discuss several substantive aspects of the Islands Region Bill, with inter-island connectivity being one of the main areas of focus.
Hendry noted that inter-island transportation is not merely a matter of infrastructure development. It is also an essential component of basic public services for communities living in island regions.
According to him, connectivity determines people’s access to education, healthcare, energy, and markets. Therefore, transportation must be incorporated into regional development policies.
“Inter-island transportation should be viewed as a basic regional service,” Hendry said, as quoted in his written statement on Thursday, October 1, 2026.
He explained that transportation is not simply a matter of transport administration or infrastructure projects. He also pointed out that connectivity challenges exist in several coastal areas of Riau Province, including Rokan Hilir, Bengkalis, Kepulauan Meranti, Pelalawan, and Indragiri Hilir.
Data from Statistics Indonesia (BPS) for Riau Province in 2025 recorded a total of 144 islands in the province. Rokan Hilir has 36 islands, Bengkalis has 19, and Kepulauan Meranti has 12. Pelalawan has 43 islands, while Indragiri Hilir has 25. These geographical conditions require connectivity support tailored to the characteristics of each region.
“When transportation is limited, access to education and healthcare is also affected,” he said.
He noted that these conditions also affect communities’ access to energy and trade. Transportation constraints can increase the cost of distributing goods to island regions, potentially driving up the prices of essential goods for residents on some islands.
These conditions also pose challenges to the provision of public services. Teachers and healthcare workers need adequate transportation links to ensure that services can be delivered continuously.
“When transportation access is difficult, providing government services naturally becomes more challenging. Therefore, connectivity needs to be incorporated into affirmative policies for island regions,” he stressed.
Hendry urged that the Islands Region Bill accommodate transportation schemes tailored to the geographical characteristics of these areas. Such schemes could include pioneer transport routes, subsidies, and Public Service Obligations (PSO). Minimum service standards are also needed for routes that are not commercially attractive to operators. These policies are expected to ensure that communities retain access to essential transportation services.
He added that connectivity must also be integrated with land, air, digital, energy, and logistics networks. Such integration would facilitate people’s mobility while improving the distribution of goods and services.
The ultimate goal is to prevent communities on small islands from experiencing unequal access to public services because of geographical barriers.
“The state must be present and ensure that connectivity serves as a bridge to basic services,” he concluded.
