Uproar Over Potential Sale of North Maluku Island to Foreigners: How Many Islands are There in Eastern Indonesia?

The Widi Islands in South Halmahera, North Maluku, are to be auctioned by the foreign auction site Sotheby's Concierge Auctions. A total of over 100 islands are involved in the auction, scheduled for December 8-14, 2022.

The sale of islands to foreign citizens is prohibited under Indonesian law. However, the sale of the Widi Islands is being circumvented by having the ultimate owner acquire shares in PT Leadership Islands Indonesia (LII), the developer of the Widi Islands.

Charlie Smith, Sotheby's Concierge Auctions Executive Vice President for Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, expects significant bids for the Widi Islands. "Every billionaire can own a private island, but only one can have this exclusive opportunity spread across more than 100 islands," Smith said, as quoted by CNN on Wednesday, November 23.

Minister of Home Affairs (Mendagri) General Pol (Ret.) Tito Karnavian stated that the Widi Islands auction aims to attract investors. According to Tito, PT Leadership Islands Indonesia (LII) is experiencing a capital shortage, thus the company is offering investment cooperation through the auction.

"They are then seeking investors, seeking foreign investors. That's why they're putting it up for auction. The goal isn't to sell it, the goal is to attract foreign investors. That's perfectly acceptable," Tito said, as quoted by CNN Indonesia on Monday, December 5.

However, the Minister of Home Affairs' statement contradicts that of the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (KKP). Wahyu Muryadi, Special Staff for Public Communication at the KKP, emphasized that the Widi Islands belong to Indonesia and are protected by law. Therefore, existing regulations prohibit the sale of islands within the country.

"The Widi Islands archipelago cannot be owned by foreigners and cannot be sold. Moreover, almost all of the 83 small islands in the Widi archipelago are protected forest areas, and their waters are part of a conservation area," Wahyu said, as quoted from a press release on Tuesday, December 6.

How Many Islands are There in North Maluku?

According to a report by the Indonesian Central Bureau of Statistics (BPS), there were 7,235 islands recorded in the Maluku and Papua regions in 2021. The number of islands in this East Indonesian region is the highest compared to other regions.

West Papua is the province with the highest number of islands, both in East Indonesia and nationally, totaling 4,514 islands.

Next, Maluku is recorded as having 1,337 islands. Then, there are 837 islands in North Maluku.

Meanwhile, Papua is the province with the fewest islands in East Indonesia, with only 547 islands.

In total, there were 16,766 islands in Indonesia in 2021. Below Maluku & Papua, the highest number of islands is in the Sumatra region with a total of 3,705 islands.