Deputy Minister of Agrarian and Spatial Planning (ATR) / Deputy Head of the National Land Agency (BPN) Surya Tjandra accompanied by the Head of the Regional Office of the National Land Agency (Kanwil BPN) Riau, M. Syahrir carried out a working visit to Siak Regency, Wednesday, on June 23, 2021.
The working visit was welcomed by Siak Regent Alfedri and Siak Deputy Regent Husni Merza, Regional Secretary Arfan Usman, as well as members of the Siak Regency Forkompinda at the Four Tribes Datuk Hall, Abdi Praja Complex, Siak Regent’s Residence in Siak Sri Indrapura.
In his remarks, apart from conveying his welcome, the Regent of Siak Alfedri reported the latest land conditions to Deputy Minister Surya Tjandra in Siak Regency as an area that was expanded from the parent Regency of Bengkalis in 1999 ago.
Currently, said Alfedri, Siak, who is 21 years old, has now developed into 14 sub-districts and 131 villages from its initial condition which only had 3 sub-districts.
The current population, he said, has reached 447 thousand people with heterogeneous ethnic backgrounds from various ethnic groups.
“On behalf of the Regional Government of Siak Regency, we express our gratitude and appreciation to the Ministry of ATR and BPN, for the provision of the TORA program for the people in Pusako, Sungai Apit, and Mempura sub-districts which was handed over directly by President Joko Widodo in 2019. In the future, we also plan to propose additional TORA to you for 3 locations, namely in the concession area of PT Wana Sawit Subur Indonesia (WSSI) and PT Duta Swakarya Indah (DSI), and PT Gelora Sawit Makmur (GSM),” said Alfedri.
At the end of his speech, Alfedri also asked for direction from Deputy Minister Surya Tjandra regarding the pattern of land and spatial management policies and regional development plans for the future, considering that Siak Regency has the Tanjung Buton Industrial Estate (KITB) with a total area of land that is prepared to reach 5000 Ha.
“KITB has started its activities for about 5 years, currently shell export activities abroad have started to run from this area. Hopefully, the infrastructure support can be built more adequately, and investment will come in soon,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Deputy Minister of Agrarian Affairs and Spatial Planning of the National Land Agency Surya Tjandra in his speech said that one of the reasons for his visit to Siak was because he heard of the existence of the Siak Asserayah Al Hasyimiyah Palace which is still very well preserved.
“We want to visit the Siak Palace to respect the roots of Malay culture in Riau,” said Syurya Tjandra.
Surya also said that he was surprised after meeting and talking with the Regent and Deputy Regent of Siak because his perspective on land issues showed his strong capacity as a regional head.
“When I listen to the Regent’s explanation, it seems that Siak is already on the track. We were impressed after talking with the Regent and Deputy Regent. Because the regions do not only need leaders who only understand regional developments, but also understand the development of central government policies. We were surprised, and this is an advantage of the Siak Regency Government. We, the Ministry of Agrarian Affairs and Spatial Planning, the National Land Agency are ready to work together to build Siak as a Heritage City,” he said.
Surya also mentioned that during his working visit to Riau Province for 3 days, he was impressed by the convenience of communicating with regional heads, because he really understood the problems in his area.
“And the most important thing is that the regional head really understands what should be expected and knows how to make it happen, then our next task is to help because we are also here for the task of synchronizing cross-sectoral agrarian policies that really need the support of all of you. Kompang is pounded loudly, the betel-eating dance welcomes guests, composes traditional Malay prayers, hopefully, Siak will progress in the future,” said the Deputy Minister of Agrarian Affairs and Spatial Planning of the National Land Agency while closing his remarks with a poem.
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