Jakarta, Indonesia – The Indonesian government has issued a strong condemnation of a Canadian-based website, Private Islands Inc., for advertising several Indonesian islands for sale, a practice deemed illegal and misleading under national law. Minister of Agrarian Affairs and Spatial Planning Nusron Wahid emphasized that no private ownership or sale of entire islands is permitted in Indonesia.
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The controversy surfaced after reports revealed that Panjang Island in West Nusa Tenggara, along with Seliu Island in Bangka Belitung, Sumba Island, a beach resort in East Nusa Tenggara, and Anambas Island in Riau Islands, were listed on the Ontario-based platform, Private Islands Inc. The company, which operates as Private Islands Online, markets itself as a global marketplace for island sales and rentals, attracting millions of visitors annually.
“No island in Indonesia can be privately owned or sold on a foreign website. This is impossible and irresponsible,” Nusron said at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport on Sunday. He clarified that Indonesian law prohibits full private or corporate ownership of islands, mandating that at least 45 percent of any island remain public space, even if portions are legally owned.
Nusron highlighted that Panjang Island, a focal point of the controversy, is designated as a conservation forest area, with no legal basis for private ownership or sale. “We’ve reviewed the land registration map, and no ownership rights exist for any individual or entity. We will investigate further,” he stated.
Private Islands Inc. includes a disclaimer on its website, stating that it does not verify the accuracy of listings provided by property owners or brokers and is not a registered real estate agent, placing full responsibility on advertisers.
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Private Islands Inc.