SP-Indonesia.com, Indonesia – The alleged appropriation of public space has once again come under scrutiny in Batam City. This time, pedestrian access in the Nato area, Sagulung District, is allegedly being unilaterally closed by a businessman by installing a high fence in an area previously used by the general public.
The land, which is said to be a green area and a Road Ownership Area (DMJ), is suspected to have been converted into a business area for certain business interests. As a result, residents are no longer able to traverse the route as before.
This situation has sparked complaints from the surrounding community. In addition to impeding pedestrian access, the closure of the area is considered to have harmed the function of the public space, which should be used for the public interest and to maintain the aesthetics of the urban environment.
“We used to be able to pass freely there. Now it’s tightly fenced off and can’t be accessed anymore,” said a resident, sounding disappointed, Thursday (May 28, 2026).
Residents believe this action gives the impression that state owned land has been turned into a private area without any clear status or legality open to the public.
The community has urged the Batam City Government, the Batam Free Trade Zone Authority (BP Batam), and related agencies to immediately intervene to investigate the land status and alleged spatial planning violations in the area.
Furthermore, residents hope the government will take decisive action to restore the function of public facilities so that they are not controlled by certain parties for economic gain.
Seeing the increasingly concerning conditions, local residents are urging the Public Works Agency, the Environmental Agency, the Spatial Planning Agency, and the Batam Business Entity Agency (BAP) to immediately conduct on-site inspections to ensure the completeness of permits and the suitability of the land use.
Adrinal, a member of the Sei Lekop Youth Organization, emphasized that his organization deplores the alleged misuse of the road and the conversion of green space.
“We deeply regret the misuse of roads and the conversion of green spaces. This disrupts public order and traffic safety, and reduces green spaces that are vital to the environment. We urge the authorities to immediately regulate these violations and restore the roads and green spaces to their proper function for the benefit of all,” he told SP-Indonesia.com.
Similarly, the Head of the SMS and Melayu Raya Subdistricts of Sagulung District, Zainal Arifin, also strongly criticized the alleged land conversion.
“Greening is fine, in fact, we support it. But don’t disrupt public roads, as they are the lifeblood of Sagulung residents. Don’t convert them into buildings, businesses, or private land, as that violates regulations and is detrimental to the community,” he stressed.
He added that he supports the reforestation program, but opposes the conversion of the road’s ROW area for other purposes.
As of the publication of this article, there has been no official statement from the business or relevant agencies regarding the installation of the fence and the use of the land.
(Singapore Reporter: Tri Astuty)
