TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - BP Batam is currently unable to move Rempang residents who are located in the Convertible Production Forest (HPK) areas. The reason is the Ministry of Environment and Forestry is still processing these areas to become other-use areas (APL).

"For residents who are located in HPK, for now, we are unable to relocate them," said the Head of Public Relations of BP Batam Ariastuty Sirait in a press release received on November 7. Compensation for the residents at the location is also yet to be distributed.

Rempang residents are currently being relocated in phases. Until this article is published, around 73 households have been relocated to temporary housing. These households are located in APL areas, under the Decision Letter of the Ministry of Environment and Forestry No. 272 of 2018.

Sirait also asked the residents to remain unprovoked by rumors and invitations to conduct unlawful actions. "Let's protect Batam together so it remains conducive," she said.

Meanwhile, Ahmad Fauzi from the National Solidarity for Rempang stated that the majority of Rempang residents are still refusing to be relocated. "If the Investment Minister said 70 percent of the residents are willing to move, release the data to us," he said recently.

The situation on the island is gradually back to normal, according to Fauzi. Rempang residents even plan to hold a melayu festival. "We will show all melayu cultures in Rempang during the festival," he concluded.

YOGI EKA SAHPUTRA

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