Muhammadiyah Urges End to Mining on Vulnerable Small Islands

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Center for Wisdom and Public Policy (LHKP) of the Muhammadiyah Central Leadership urged the Indonesian government to evaluate and revoke all mining permits on small islands in Indonesia.

The Natural Resource Politics Study Department of the LHKP Muhammadiyah Central Leadership conveyed this after paying close attention to the press conference held by the Energy and Mineral Resources Minister, Bahlil Lahadalia, regarding the revocation of four nickel Mining Business Permits (IUP) in Raja Ampat, Jakarta, on June 10, 2025.

Parid Ridwanuddin, a member of the Natural Resource Politics Study Department of LHKP Muhammadiyah, emphasized that mining on small islands has no place in Indonesia, considering that the laws explicitly prohibit it. Article 35 of Law Number 27 of 2007, jo Law No. 1 of 2014 concerning the Management of Coastal Areas and Small Islands explicitly prohibits it.

"This means that, if the government wants to enforce the law based on that act, all mining permits on small islands must be evaluated and revoked promptly," Parid said in a written message on Wednesday, June 11, 2025.

Furthermore, Wahyu Perdana, the Head of the Natural Resource Politics Study Department of LHKP Muhammadiyah, added that the government should not use the revocation of four IUPs by the Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources to allow mining companies to meet administrative requirements and subsequently open new permits.

Wahyu continued, if mining on small islands is not stopped, it will become an ecological and socio-economic time bomb that can explode at any time. "Our small Indonesian islands are highly vulnerable. No form of mining should be permitted," he stated.

According to Parid, LHKP Muhammadiyah's demand is highly relevant to ensure no selective revocation of mining permits in one place, while turning a blind eye to another. "Muhammadiyah emphasizes that ecological justice is an absolute necessity for all Indonesian people, without exception. This includes those on small islands," Parid said.

Furthermore, LHKP Muhammadiyah's call is also relevant considering the numerous small islands granted mining permits. Based on records from the Auriga Nusantara Foundation (2025), there are mining permits on 214 small islands with a total area of 390 thousand hectares. These permits have been given to 303 mining companies.

If the government only stops revoking four mining permits in Raja Ampat, Wahyu said, but allows mining permits on other small islands in Indonesia, then this violates the laws mentioned above, especially Law No. 27 of 2007 jo Law No. 1 of 2014.

Moreover, Wahyu stated that mining on small islands will cause very serious ecological disasters and force the residents of those islands to become refugees. Indigenous and coastal women and children are guaranteed to lose their living and social spaces, as well as their ecological roles.

Specifically, Wahyu claims that this goes against the spirit and principles of CEDAW regarding ecological justice for indigenous and coastal women and their right to live a decent and healthy life in an undisturbed environment. "If this happens, it is a serious crime," said Wahyu Perdana.

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