Jakarta, Indonesia Sentinel — An international real estate website, Private Islands Online, has gain public attention after listing islands in Indonesia as “for sale.”
The listings include five island including a pair of islands in the Anambas archipelago (Riau Islands), a plot on Seliu Island near Belitung, two properties on Sumba Island (East Nusa Tenggara), and Panjang Island in West Nusa Tenggara.
Prices for these islands vary. For example, Seliu Island is listed at $167,336 (approximately Rp2 billion), while others are marked as “Price Upon Request.”
In response, Indonesia’s Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) emphasized that islands within the country’s territory cannot be legally sold. Koswara, the ministry’s Director General of Marine Spatial Management, stated there are no laws in Indonesia that permit the sale of entire islands or small islands.
“We want to make it clear, there is absolutely no regulation in Indonesia that allows the sale of small islands,” Koswara said in a statement on Friday (June 20, 2025). “What is permitted is the regulated use of islands for specific activities, including land use and investment, but only under strict conditions.”
According to Koswara, the ministry is authorized to grant permits or recommendations for the utilization of small islands, including their surrounding waters, both for domestic and foreign investment.
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These rules are outlined in Marine Affairs and Fisheries Ministerial Regulation No. 8 of 2019, which limits island use to a maximum of 70% of their total area. The remaining 30% must be preserved for public access, environmental protection, and other social functions.
Call to Take Down Listings
To prevent similar listings in the future, the ministry is coordinating with the Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs (Komdigi) to monitor and remove online advertisements offering Indonesian islands for sale.
Ahmad Aris, Director of Coasts and Small Islands, said the ministry has formally requested Komdigi to restrict or take down the website content. In addition, the ministry plans to launch a dedicated subdomain listing the names and profiles of Indonesia’s small and outermost islands to improve public awareness and transparency.
“By increasing public understanding, we hope to reduce the risk of conflicts over resource use, prevent environmental damage, and ensure that island utilization is done legally and sustainably,” Aris said.
(Raidi/Agung)
