Maintaining the Sustainability of the Old Malay Indigenous Community and Local Communities on Rempang Island

The Rempang United Indigenous and Local Communities Group (MATRA Rempang) was formed to fight for the rights of the Old Malay Indigenous Community and Local Communities on Rempang Island, Riau Islands. The threat of industrial and tourism development threatens their existence on ancestral land that they have occupied since 1834. To maintain the sovereignty of the indigenous territory, MATRA Rempang strengthens advocacy through capacity building and legal awareness, supported by the Nusantara Fund Direct Funding.

MATRA Rempang prioritizes participatory mapping in an effort to fight for land rights. With Geographic Information System (GIS) training, communities from five old villages—Kampung Sembulang Pasir Merah, Sembulang Hulu, Pasir Panjang, Sembulang Camping, and Blongkeng—as well as Sungai Buluh, were trained to map their areas independently. As a result, the area of ​​customary land was successfully mapped reaching 3.245 hectares, which was then used as the basis for submitting a legal recognition of land rights. 

In addition to clarifying the boundaries of customary areas, this mapping strengthens the legal position of the community in advocacy and recognition of rights. The MATRA Rempang group proposed legal recognition of 1.354,66 hectares of land in Pasir Panjang Village and Sembulang Hulu Village as an effort to fight land grabs in the National Strategic Project (PSN). Gaining legal recognition of customary areas is crucial amidst the ever-aggressive expansion of development projects.

In addition to land rights advocacy, MATRA Rempang also initiated ecological rehabilitation based on natural agriculture. On 4 hectares of land in Sembulang Hulu Village and Pasir Panjang Village, the community implemented an intercropping system by planting basil, kale, chilies, and bananas. This method reduces dependence on chemicals and herbicides, replacing them with organic fertilizers based on local microorganisms. As a result, land productivity increased, the risk of crop failure decreased, and the community's economy became stronger. In addition, the community also developed a plant nursery demonstration plot that functions as a natural agriculture training center. 

Through participatory mapping, submission of land rights legality, legal assistance, strengthening advocacy, and implementing natural farming, MATRA Rempang confirms that Indigenous Communities are able to manage their territories sustainably.