InfoSAWIT, SIWALALAT – Three palm oil and sugar plantation companies are set to commence operations soon in Siwalalat District, East Seram Regency (SBT), Maluku. The presence of these companies has raised concerns among local residents who have had unpleasant experiences with previous companies.
The three companies that will operate include PT. Fisqa Mulia Maha Karya as the parent company and two other subsidiaries. According to plans, these companies will manage an area of 250,000 hectares for palm oil and sugar plantations. However, local residents are worried about the potential impacts on both the environment and their social lives.
Residents expressed their concerns during a working visit by Commission I of the SBT DPRD to Siwalalat District on Saturday (March 8, 2025). The Chairman of Commission I of the SBT DPRD, Abdul Aziz Yanlua, responded to these concerns by stating that he would interrupt the local government to reconsider the entry of these three companies.
"As the commission chairman, I will interrupt the local government to reconsider the entry of these companies in Siwalalat," Yanlua asserted, as reported by InfoSAWIT from KBRN RRI on Monday (March 10, 2025).
According to the PDI Perjuangan politician, the presence of these companies is feared to exploit the community's production forests. Additionally, the potential for social conflict due to land acquisition by the companies is also a major concern.
In addition to discussing the entry of plantation companies, the working visit of Commission I of the SBT DPRD also uncovered various other issues in the district. One of them is the suboptimal government services due to a lack of Civil Servants (ASN). Several positions within the district's organizational structure are reportedly still vacant due to a shortage of staff.
In terms of village budget management, the community hopes that the SBT Regency Government will soon schedule Village Head Elections (Pilkades). This is deemed important so that village governance can run more effectively with a definitive village head.
"All the aspirations expressed by the residents have been noted. We found that the lack of ASN personnel in the district and the vacancy of several positions in the government structure impact public services. We will also encourage the local government to hold Pilkades soon to optimize village budget management," Yanlua explained.
With various aspirations and issues identified during this visit, the residents of Siwalalat District hope for concrete steps from the local government to provide the best solutions, especially in addressing the presence of the controversial plantation companies. (T2)
