Dian Rahma Fika, Jakarta – The Wali Nanggroe of Aceh Malik Mahmud Al Haythar hopes for the endorsement of regulations regarding the raising of the Aceh flag. He expressed this after the central government of Indonesia returned four islands that were previously disputed with North Sumatra to Aceh.
Malik Mahmud mentioned that the Acehnese people still have a strong desire to raise the flag with the crescent moon and star symbol. "So, for Acehnese people, it is hoped that the flag will be endorsed. We are just waiting," he said on Tuesday night, June 17, 2025, during a meeting with former President Jusuf Kalla in the Kebayoran Baru area of South Jakarta.
The polemic regarding the raising of the Aceh flag stems from differences in views between the Helsinki Agreement, national laws, and regional regulations (Qanun) in Aceh. The Helsinki Agreement contains a clause stating that Aceh has the right to use its own territorial symbols, including flags, emblems, and anthems.
However, this contradicts Government Regulation Number 77 of 2007, which prohibits regions from using symbols resembling those of separatist organizations, in this case, the Free Aceh Movement. Until now, the polemic over the legality of using the Aceh flag has not found a common ground.
Nevertheless, Malik Mahmud expressed his joy because the four islands had returned to Aceh. "Thank God, the recent polemic over the 4 islands has been resolved. And with this, I would like to express my gratitude to the President, to our leaders who have resolved the issue, including the Minister of Home Affairs as well," he said.
Previously, President Prabowo Subianto decided that four islands disputed between Aceh and North Sumatra (Sumut) would fall within Aceh's administrative region. This determination was based on administrative documents held by the government.
"Based on the documents, the government has decided that the 4 islands belong to Aceh," said State Secretary Minister Prasetyo Hadi at the Presidential Office in Jakarta on Tuesday, June 17, 2025.
Prabowo chaired a limited meeting via video conference during his trip to St. Petersburg, Russia, on Tuesday. The limited meeting was attended by Home Affairs Minister Tito Karnavian, State Secretary Minister/Presidential Spokesperson Prasetyo Hadi, Aceh Governor Muzakir Manaf, North Sumatra Governor Bobby Nasution, and Deputy House Speaker Sufmi Dasco Ahmad.
The Home Affairs Minister explained the government's reasons for deciding that the 4 disputed islands fall within Aceh's administrative region. Tito said that original documents containing an agreement between the Governor of Aceh and the Governor of North Sumatra in 1992 had been found. This document confirms that the four islands fall within Aceh's region.
Tito stated that the original document was found at the Ministry of Home Affairs Archive Building in Pondok Kelapa, East Jakarta, on Monday, June 17, 2025. "Three buildings were searched and original documents containing an agreement between the two governors were found," he said.
– Hendrik Yaputra, Eka Yudha Saputra, and Sapto Yunus contributed to the writing of this article.