The Chairman of the MAUNG NGO Commends Sultan Sultan Syarif Melvin AlKadrie, S.H., Regarding the Pengikik Island Controversy
PONTIANAK KALBAR-JAYA NEWS COM – The controversy surrounding the status of Pengikik Island, which is now claimed to be part of the Riau Islands (Kepri), has once again drawn sharp attention.
In an official statement, the Chairman of the MAUNG NGO DPP expressed his high appreciation and criticism of the slow progress of the West Kalimantan Provincial Government (Pemprov Kalbar) in defending this strategic island.
“We, the MAUNG NGO DPP, express our highest appreciation to Sultan Syarif Melvin AlKadrie, S.H., Member of the Regional Representative Council (DPD RI), for his courage in speaking out against the use of colonial documents as the basis for determining the boundaries of Pengikik Island. His statement is weighty, constitutional, and supports the interests of the people of West Kalimantan,” said Hadysa Prana, Chairman of the MAUNG NGO DPP, in a press release on Tuesday, July 15, 2025.
However, the Central Executive Board of the MAUNG NGO believes that there are still major questions about the West Kalimantan Provincial Government’s stance.
“We are still questioning the West Kalimantan Governor’s statement a few days ago. Mr. Governor, if West Kalimantan has historical documents and a strong legal basis regarding Pengikik Island, why is the Provincial Government so slow to act that the Riau Islands dare to register the island with its regional administration? Is there political pressure or some kind of compromise that makes West Kalimantan appear hesitant to fight for its own territorial rights?” the Chairman asserted.
In response to the criticism, West Kalimantan Governor Ria Norsan acknowledged that the Provincial Government is preparing supporting documents for West Kalimantan’s claim to Pengikik Island.
“We can’t just make a claim. Our data must be valid and strong. We are completing the historical documentation so that if we advance, we win, not lose,” Norsan said.
Norsan added that the data currently being collected includes Dutch colonial archives, royal letters, proof of land ownership, and historical maps showing that Pengikik Island was once within the Sungai Kunyit District, Mempawah Regency, before the regional expansion.
Legal Aspect: Colonial Documents Invalid
According to Andri Mayudi, Chairman of the Regional Leadership Council (DPD) of the MAUNG NGO in West Kalimantan, he told the Central MAUNG Central Executive Board (DPP) that the Pengikik Island issue is not simply about maps or geography, but concerns the principle of legality within the national legal framework. Colonial documents such as the 1857 Contract with the Sultan of Lingga are deemed legally ineffective within the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia (NKRI).
“Since Bakosurtanal (National Agency for Survey and Survey) was established on October 17, 1969—which later became the Geospatial Information Agency (BIG) through Presidential Decree No. 94 of 2011—only official state maps are valid as a reference for defining territorial boundaries. Not colonial contracts fraught with colonial interests,” asserted the Chairman of the MAUNG NGO in West Kalimantan.
The MAUNG NGO, which has a presence throughout Indonesia, also considers Bintan Regency Regulation No. 19 of 2007, which serves as the basis for the Riau Islands claim, to be potentially legally flawed because:
It does not refer to the official BIG map.
It uses geographical terms without legal clarity.
This goes beyond the authority of district regulations in determining inter-provincial boundaries.
This contradicts the principle of national legislative hierarchy.
The NGO MAUNG West Kalimantan emphasized that Pengikik Island holds strategic value not only geographically, but also as part of the history of the Pontianak Sultanate. The island has been an important Malay trade route since the 18th century and is closely tied to the identity of the coastal communities of West Kalimantan.
“The loss of Pengikik Island is not just a matter of the loss of a piece of land, but the loss of the dignity of history, culture, and identity of the people of West Kalimantan,” stated the Chairman of the NGO MAUNG West Kalimantan.
The Central Executive Board of the NGO MAUNG warned that the Pengikik Island controversy has now become a battleground for narratives in the digital space.
“This is not the colonial era. We live in the digital age, where propaganda can obscure the truth. West Kalimantan must have a strong information management strategy so that our history, legal evidence, and identity are not overshadowed by one-sided narratives,” the Chairman emphasized.
In its official statement, the NGO MAUNG Kalbar urged the West Kalimantan Provincial Government to immediately:
1. Submit a legal clarification to the Ministry of Home Affairs and consider a judicial review of Bintan Regency Regulation No. 19 of 2007.
2. Form a Historical, Legal, and Geospatial Study Team involving the Pontianak Sultanate, academics, the Indonesian Institute of Sciences (BIG), and indigenous communities.
3. Develop a public communications strategy to maintain West Kalimantan’s sovereignty narrative at the national level.
4. Ensure that Pengikik Island remains registered as West Kalimantan territory based on national law and historical facts.
“West Kalimantan cannot simply stop at rhetoric. We must act quickly, intelligently, and based on the law. Pengikik Island is a matter of national dignity, not just a map,” concluded the Chairperson of the NGO MAUNG Kalbar.**
Author: MAUNG NGO Team
Source: West Kalimantan LSM DPD
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