Former VP Jusuf Kalla: Four Disputed Islands Belong to Aceh, Legally and Historically

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Former Vice President Jusuf Kalla (JK) said that the four disputed islands between Aceh and North Sumatra belong to Aceh. According to him, the four islands, namely Pulau Panjang, Pulau Lipan, Pulau Mangkir Kecil, and Pulau Mangkir Besar, have always been Aceh’s territory, both formally and historically.

"Formally and historically, the four islands are within the territory of Singkil, Aceh Province," said Jusuf Kalla in a written statement received in Jakarta on Sunday, June 15, 2025.

He explained that Aceh’s claim to the islands is rooted in the 2005 Helsinki peace agreement between the Indonesian Government and the Free Aceh Movement (GAM).

As part of the agreement, Aceh’s territorial boundaries were to follow those outlined in Law No. 24 of 1956, which established Aceh as an autonomous region, separate from North Sumatra.

"Pulau Lipan, Pulau Panjang, Pulau Mangkir Besar, Mangkir Kecil, historically these are indeed part of Aceh, Aceh Singkil, despite their proximity to North Sumatra," he said.

Jusuf also argued that this law takes precedence over the Minister of Home Affairs Decree No. 300.2.2-2138 of 2025, which categorizes the islands under North Sumatra’s jurisdiction. He emphasized that such a decree cannot override legislation passed by the national parliament.

"So it cannot be revoked by the Ministerial Decree. The Ministerial Decree cannot alter the law," he said.

Meanwhile, Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Sufmi Dasco Ahmad, announced that President Prabowo Subianto will personally step in to resolve the boundary dispute between the two provinces. Dasco said this follows a recent conversation with the President.

"The result of the communication between the Indonesian House of Representatives and the President is that the President will take over the issue of the island boundaries, which has become a dynamic between Aceh Province and North Sumatra Province," Dasco stated on Sunday.

The dispute intensified after the Ministry of Home Affairs issued a decree on April 25, 2025, listing the islands — Pulau Mangkir Gadang, Pulau Mangkir Ketek, Pulau Lipan, and Pulau Panjang — under Tapanuli Tengah Regency, North Sumatra. However, Aceh Singkil also claims the same islands.

Minister Tito Karnavian said the decree was based on geographic assessments and input from several institutions, as it relates to the official registration of island names with the United Nations. He added that the Aceh government is welcome to challenge the decision through legal means.

"We are open to evaluation or legal challenges, including to the State Administrative Court. Please go ahead," Tito said on June 10.

According to Dasco, President Prabowo is expected to make an official ruling on the matter in the coming week. "The President will make a decision on this matter next week," he said.

Dinda Shabrina, Dian Rahma, and Ervana Trikarnaputri contributed to the writing of this article.

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