Karang Singa can become new tourist attraction: Governor

Batam, Riau Islands (ANTARA) – Infrastructure development in Karang Singa, the coral reef in Malacca Strait bordering Singapore and Malaysia, could become an alternative tourist attraction for people visiting Batam and Bintan, Riau Islands Governor Ansar Ahmad noted.

“Because Karang Singa is only 3.7 miles from Bintan, I feel like it can be an alternative tourist attraction for tourists visiting Bintan or Batam once the construction is complete,” he stated on Saturday.

Ahmad remarked that the construction in Karang Singa is being continued this year.

“Infrastructure development in Karang Singa will continue this year. Last year, in 2022, we just built the foundation. I have met with the transportation minister, and this year, they will build it soon,” he stated.

The governor expects that the infrastructure could be built well so as to attract tourists.

Home Affairs Minister Muhammad Tito Karnavian stated in 2022 that he aimed to pursue completing the development of infrastructure in Karang Singa no later than 2023.

The minister noted in a meeting with Commission II of the House of Representatives on Tuesday that Indonesian coral reefs in the borders were strategic places and were prone to being claimed by foreign parties, so the government must build infrastructure to secure Indonesia’s position in areas such as these.

He stressed that the government needed to take such measures to anticipate threats from foreign parties and prevent the recurrence of instances, such as those in Sipadan and Ligitan.

To this end, Minister Karnavian sought the commission’s support on the infrastructure development plan in the Karang Singa area.

“I seek your support, ladies and gentlemen, so that this can be built this year, next year at the latest, before someone messes with us,” he appealed. 

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