BATAMCLICK.COM: Far from the city lights, in the quiet corners of the map where mobile signals fade, lie Indonesia’s outermost islands—small, uninhabited patches of land that hold monumental importance for the nation’s sovereignty.
To protect these fragile frontiers, the Indonesian government is building breakwaters and revetments—seemingly simple coastal structures that serve a greater purpose: to keep the country whole.
“If we lose one of these islands, we lose thousands of nautical miles of territorial waters,” said Dr. Nurdin, Deputy I for Border Management of BNPP (National Border Management Agency), during a coordination meeting in Natuna on Tuesday.
The Riau Islands Province has 22 outermost islands, several of which have already received protective infrastructure. Among them are Pulau Sentut and Pulau Berakit in Bintan, and Pulau Sebet and Pulau Semiun in Natuna. Construction began in 2022, continued in 2023, and is planned for Pulau Kepala in 2025.
Breakwaters and revetments might not look like much. But they send a powerful message: that Indonesia is present, and it will defend every inch of its land—even against nature’s own erosion.
But defending borders isn’t just about bricks and concrete. The government is also nurturing life in these areas. In Natuna, they’ve established the Serasan Border Crossing Post (PLBN Serasan)—a gateway now vital to the local economy.
Serasan is no longer just a border checkpoint. It has become a hub for fish exports to Malaysia, and the government is now pushing to develop it as an entry-exit point for international tourism vessels.
“Guarding the borders requires collaboration from all parties,” Dr. Nurdin emphasized.
Because out there, in the farthest reaches of the archipelago, stand quiet islands—small but proud—whispering stories of a nation’s commitment to its borders.
By: Antara
