Hanin Marwah, Petir Garda B, Jakarta – Victor Gustaaf Manoppo, the Director General of Marine Space Management of the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries, said that 66 companies have applied for concession permits to manage sea sand.
The government previously garnered 71 applications to manage sea sand, but several companies have withdrawn due to incomplete administrative documents.
Based on Tempo's investigation results, as quoted from the Sunday edition of Tempo Magazine, September 29, 2024, prominent figures such as regional head candidates, business magnates, and former ministers affiliated with several companies were on the list.
Among them was Yusril Ihza Mahendra, former Minister of Law and Human Rights during Megawati Soekarnoputri's presidency and former Minister of State Secretary during Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's administration. His name is written in the company deed of PT Gajamina Sakti Nusantara.
It is important to note that Yusril Ihza was also the head of the legal team of the Prabowo Subianto-Gibran Rakabuming Raka National Winning Team in the 2024 presidential election. However, Yusril Ihza's name was not the only prominent figure adorning the deeds of companies vying for sea sand permits. Here are three others based on Tempo's investigation.
1. Dede Supriyadi Arief
Dede Supriyadi Arief's name is associated with not one but four of the 66 companies applying for sea sand utulization. These companies are PT Atlantis Indonesia Raya, PT Zayan Tambang Raya, PT Samudra Zayan Raya, and PT Zeinzio Nusantara.
Dede is a Regent candidate in Lebak, Banten, in the upcoming election, backed by the NasDem Party and the National Mandate Party (PAN). Meanwhile, Tempo visited Dede's house in Billy Moon on Thursday, September 26, and met with the security of his residence to ask for a letter of clarification. However, reportedly, Dede has yet to respond on his involvement in the sea sand export.
2. Rahmania Kannesia Dahuri
Another company on the list that caught Tempo's attention was Rahmania Kannesia Dahuri, the daughter of former Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries, Rokhmin Dahuri.
Her name was registered as a commissioner at PT Bumi Lautan Samudera, a business magnate in sea sand utilization. However, when asked about Rahmania's involvement in sea sand dredging, Rokhmin refuted the claim. "Wow, they profiteered mine and my daughter's names. I don't know anything about Bumi Lautan Samudera," he said on Friday, September 27.
For additional information, Bumi Lautan Samudera is listed as a sand dredging, offshore operations, and infrastructure development company, such as dredging intended for the construction of ports.
3. Hashim Djojohadikusumo
Another name included in the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries' list is Hashim Djojohadikusumo, the younger brother of Prabowo Subianto, Indonesia's president-elect and the general chairperson of the Gerindra Party. Hashim's name is written in the deed of the Rejeki Abadi Lestari as the owner of PT Arsari Pradana Utama, or Arsari Group, the company's largest shareholder.
Rejeki Abadi Lestari was established last year, three months after President Joko Widodo issued Government Regulation No. 26 of 2023, the green light for sea sand management, which was later strengthened by two export regulations.
Meanwhile, Hashim's son, Aryo P.S. Djojohadikusumo, was listed as commissioner and minority shareholder of Rejeki Abadi Lestari. Arsari Group, however, has not provided any certainty regarding its company's shares in Rejeki Abadi Lestari.
As is known, the ocean stores abundant sediment materials from various sources. One component of the seabed is sediment, which is a collection of particles or materials that are deposited through a number of natural processes.
Meanwhile, sea sand is one type of sediment often found on the coast or shallow seabed. Although both are often used interchangeably, there are differences between marine sedimentation and sea sand, especially in their origins and functions in the ecosystem.