Indonesia’s Regional Representative Council (DPD RI) has renewed its push for the Islands Bill, which has repeatedly failed to advance to the deliberation stage of the National Legislation Program (Prolegnas) due to various considerations raised by the House of Representatives (DPR RI) and the government.

Angelius Wake Kalo (AWK), deputy chair of Commission II at the DPD RI, said the bill had long been a source of frustration for the council as it continued to advocate for its inclusion in the national legislative agenda.

“Our concern and disappointment are well-founded, as the DPD RI has been pushing for this bill since the 2014–2019 term. However, its advancement to the deliberation stage has repeatedly been postponed for various reasons raised by the DPR RI and the government,” Senator AWK said, as quoted on Saturday, October 10, 2026.

He stressed that the bill is essential to providing targeted development support for Indonesia’s island regions, which span nine provinces and 88 regencies and municipalities. Their geographical conditions and high costs of development, he said, make equitable development difficult, particularly because these factors are not adequately considered in the allocation of intergovernmental transfers, including the General Allocation Fund (DAU) and the Special Allocation Fund (DAK).

The senator from East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) pointed to a positive signal from President Prabowo Subianto on August 14, 2026. During the annual session of the People’s Consultative Assembly (MPR RI), the president acknowledged the DPD RI’s continued efforts to push for the Islands Bill to become law.

“The president directly instructed all ministries and government agencies, as well as the DPR RI, to expedite deliberations on the Islands Bill. For us, this represents the clearest indication of political will,” AWK said.

As a member of the DPD RI’s working team on the Islands Bill, AWK said he remained committed to advancing the legislation. He and other members of the team, together with the leadership and members of the DPR RI’s special committee deliberating the bill, attended a consultation in Sorong, Southwest Papua, alongside the governor, the regent of Raja Ampat, and other stakeholders to gather input ahead of the bill’s deliberations.

He said the consultation was part of public participation in the legislative process.

“We hope that by 2027, when the president delivers his state address, the bill will already have become the Islands Law,” AWK concluded.