Announcements for the sale of Indonesian islands and plots on them were published on a platform specialising in private island trade. Pulau Panjang, located near Sumbawa, and plots on the island of Sumba made their appearance for sale. Indonesian authorities reacted strongly to this news, labelling such listings as fake.
The website did not specify the price for purchasing the land, promising to disclose it upon request. The description of Pulau Panjang claimed that a plot of 3300 hectares was available for purchase, alleging that these areas were currently privately owned. The listing for Sumba maintained that plots ranging from 5 to 100 hectares were available, purportedly “perfectly suitable for villas, resorts, or investment projects.” The price ranged from 7 to 20 euros per square metre.
Local authorities' reaction was swift. The head of Sumbawa district, Syarafuddin Jarot, stated that it was the first time he had heard of the sale of Pulau Panjang. He emphasised that this land is part of a protected area and cannot be subject to private transactions.
The same stance was echoed by the head of East Sumba, Umbu Lili Pekuwali:
“Who's selling? This is madness. It's nonsense. Sumba belongs to the state; it is not privately owned, and the land cannot be sold.”
He also stated that he doesn't intend to take such news seriously, calling it absurd.
The police also confirmed that these announcements were fake.
“The East Sumba police conducted an investigation and coordinated with local authorities. The conclusion is that the information on the Private Islands Online site is false, it's a hoax,” said Rusdi Hartono, head of the public information bureau of the Indonesian police.
He added that no actual sale of Sumba island plots is happening, and the police and administration continue to monitor the situation. In his statement, Hartono stressed that land on the island cannot be privately owned and therefore cannot be sold.
Currently, the website still contains information about Indonesian lands for sale. However, it is clear from the listings that investors are being offered not entire islands but plots for constructing villas and hotels, which are leased, not owned by the sellers.
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