InfoSAWIT, PEKANBARU - In a renewed push for agrarian justice within the palm oil industry in Riau Province, the Riau Legislative Council (DPRD) has initiated the formation of a special committee (pansus) to oversee the implementation of the 20 percent plasma obligation by palm oil companies.
This move comes amid concerns that many companies are neglecting their obligations to share land with surrounding communities, as mandated by existing regulations.
DPRD Chairman Kaderismanto emphasized that out of hundreds of palm oil companies operating in Riau, only a small fraction complies with the plasma obligation. "If this program were to function as intended, the community would benefit directly and significantly. This is a concrete way to address extreme poverty in Riau," Kaderismanto stated, as reported by InfoSAWIT from Antara on Monday (June 30).
The plasma program requires companies with Business Use Rights (HGU) to allocate at least 20 percent of their land to local communities as independently managed plasma farms or through partnership schemes. The goal is to create mutually beneficial relationships between companies and local farmers while boosting the economies of villages surrounding plantations.
However, in practice, many companies have evaded this obligation. Kaderismanto's data indicates that of approximately 297 palm oil companies managing around 900,000 hectares of HGU land in Riau, few have transparently reported or implemented plasma farms.
This situation is further concerning in light of findings of over one million hectares of illegal palm oil land, which is currently under the scrutiny of the Forest Area Enforcement Task Force (Satgas PKH). "The presence of Satgas PKH can be synergized with the push for plasma to be genuinely implemented. If handled seriously, this could be a significant milestone in restoring community land rights," said the PDI Perjuangan politician.
The proposal to form the DPRD Riau special committee has been communicated to Governor Abdul Wahid and received a positive response. According to Kaderismanto, the committee will work across sectors, including collaborating with the provincial government, relevant ministries, and law enforcement agencies to ensure that every company fulfills its obligations transparently and fairly.
This push has gained strong political momentum following a firm statement from the Minister of Agrarian Affairs and Spatial Planning (ATR/BPN), indicating that companies failing to meet plasma obligations could face administrative sanctions, including the revocation of their HGU.
"The minister's firm statement provides additional energy for us in the region. There will be no more tolerance for companies that have exploited state land without providing fair benefits to surrounding communities," Kaderismanto asserted.
He also noted that the special committee will not only function as an oversight body but will also review policies and advocate for the issuance of more operational regional regulations for plasma implementation.
"Until now, there has been no local legal basis that the district/city governments can use to take action against non-compliant companies. With the establishment of this committee, we hope to see regulations that provide legal certainty and protection for community rights," he added.
The DPRD Riau's actions signal a strong indication that agrarian reform issues, particularly in the context of palm oil plantations, are beginning to receive serious attention at the local level. Strengthening the plasma scheme is also seen as a long-term strategy for building rural economic resilience and balancing the relationship between corporations and local communities.
Now, the community's hopes are pinned on the effectiveness of the special committee's work. With close oversight, data transparency, and strong political commitment, the implementation of the 20 percent plasma farms could become a tangible instrument for creating social and economic justice in an industry that has long been viewed as elitist and exclusive. (T2)
