Maluku Emphasizes the Urgency of the Archipelagic Regions Bill in Joint Discussions with the DPR RI Special Committee and the DPD RI Working Team

20 July 2026 oleh admin

Ambon, dpd.go.id – Discussions on the Bill (RUU) on Archipelagic Regions continue to gain momentum. As the initiator of the bill, the Working Team (Timja) of the House of Regional Representative of the Republic of Indonesia (DPD RI), together with the Special Committee (Pansus) of the House of Representatives (DPR RI), are gathering various aspirations from the Maluku Provincial Government and regional stakeholders to ensure that the regulation can address the real needs of island communities.

The meeting with the Maluku Government is part of an effort to enrich the substance of the Archipelagic Regions Bill, which is currently being discussed jointly by the DPR RI Pansus, the DPD RI Timja, and the Government. The various inputs provided are expected to strengthen policy support for regions with archipelagic geographic characteristics.

Vice Chairperson of the DPD RI Archipelagic Regions Bill Timja, Graal Taliawo, emphasized that the struggle to establish specific regulations for archipelagic regions has been ongoing since 2017 and is now entering a critical stage in the national legislative process.

"The struggle to bring about the Archipelagic Regions Law has come a long way. After nine years of fighting for it, discussions have now entered a vital phase alongside the DPR RI Special Committee and the Government. However, most importantly, this bill must remain grounded in the real needs of archipelagic regions and the communities living within them," Graal said in his opening remarks in Ambon, Maluku, on Monday (July 20, 2026).

Graal noted that regional visits are a crucial part of ensuring that the substance of the bill can address the various challenges long faced by island communities ranging from inter-island connectivity and basic services to the management of marine potential. This view was supported by the Governor of Maluku, Hendrik Lewerissa, who assessed that the presence of the Archipelagic Regions Bill is expected to deliver policies that lean more favorably toward island regions.

"What we truly hope for from the Archipelagic Regions Bill is tangible support for island communities. Our challenges are different from those of mainland regions—from connectivity and transportation costs to delivering public services across many islands. Therefore, we hope this bill can bring about fairer policies that genuinely address the needs of archipelagic communities," Hendrik expressed.

Through this working visit, the feedback gathered aligns with the spirit advocated by the DPR Special Committee and the DPD RI Working Team through the Archipelagic Regions Bill: delivering more adaptive affirmative policies capable of addressing the unique challenges of island regions, while simultaneously driving equitable development and improving community welfare across Indonesia.