Bengkalis Vice Regent addresses Air Raja land status disputes

Residents of Air Raja in Tanjung Leban Village, Bengkalis Regency, have raised concerns regarding the legal status of their land and settlements. During an audience with Bengkalis Vice Regent Bagus Santoso on September 22, 2026, community representatives expressed anxiety over conflicting reports of land seizure.

According to community representative Dedianto, residents previously entered into a 2018 cooperation agreement with PT Sakato Pratama Makmur involving approximately 3,113 hectares of land. However, the community was recently alerted to the installation of signs by the KTKH Task Force indicating the seizure of 1,538.3 hectares of non-industrial forest land. Furthermore, village government information suggests a potential seizure of approximately 4,600 hectares in the Air Raja area.

The disputed area is currently home to 400 to 450 families and contains established social and public infrastructure, including kindergartens, elementary and junior high schools, a village health center, mosques, and prayer rooms. In response to the community's plea for clarity, Vice Regent Bagus Santoso has requested the verification of all data and legal documentation regarding the land status.