Photo: illustration of a community mining area, (courtesy)
The INDONESIAN , (Jakarta) — Moral and cultural support from Kings, Sultans, Datuk, Queens, and customary leaders across the Indonesian archipelago has been strongly expressed for the continued efforts of the Madina (Mandailing Natal) People’s Mining Cooperative in actively socializing Government Regulation (PP) No. 39 of 2025 by engaging directly with small-scale community miners in the regions.
The appreciation emerged during a series of strategic discussions and national forums organized by the Indonesian Customary Council (Majelis Adat Indonesia/MAI), attended by customary leaders representing various kingdoms, sultanates, and traditional institutions across the country. The leaders assessed that the cooperative’s dialogical, on-the-ground approach reflects the principles of social justice, alignment with grassroots communities, and the implementation of Article 33 of the 1945 Constitution in the governance of natural resources.
The MAI forums view the socialization of Government Regulation No. 39 of 2025 not merely as an administrative agenda, but as a civilizational step toward restructuring people’s mining practices to be lawful, equitable, sustainable, and dignified. Accordingly, the support of Kings, Sultans, Datuk, and Queens across the archipelago serves as an important source of moral legitimacy for people’s mining cooperatives throughout Indonesia.
Grassroots Approach Seen as Aligned with Archipelagic Customary Values
During the outreach activities in Mandailing Natal, the Madina People’s Mining Cooperative was directly accompanied by the Advisor of the Indonesian Archipelagic Mining Cooperatives Holding (IKTN), Mulyadi Elhan Zakaria, along with the Central IKTN Regional Coordinator I, Khairul Saleh Sipahutar. The presence of IKTN is regarded as an effort to strengthen institutional capacity in line with archipelagic customary values, including deliberation, mutual cooperation, and the protection of community livelihoods.
Chairman of the Madina People’s Mining Cooperative, H. Zulfahmi, expressed gratitude for the broad support received, both from IKTN and customary leaders nationwide.
“This support serves as a source of encouragement for us. With clear regulations, institutional assistance, and moral endorsement from customary leaders, we are optimistic that people’s mining will become better organized and bring greater welfare,” he said.
Meanwhile, Khairul Saleh Sipahutar emphasized that legal certainty through cooperatives holding People’s Mining Permits (IUPR) is key to the future of small-scale mining. According to him, IKTN functions as an umbrella organization that not only advocates, but also builds professional and ethical governance for people’s mining cooperatives across the archipelago.
Government Regulation No. 39 of 2025 Viewed as Pro-People Policy
Government Regulation No. 39 of 2025 has drawn particular attention in customary forums, as it is seen to embody the spirit of inclusive and equitable mining governance reform. The regulation prioritizes licensing for cooperatives, micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), and community organizations, ensuring that the benefits of natural resources are more evenly distributed among the people.
Mulyadi Elhan Zakaria stressed that the era of people’s mining without legal certainty must come to an end.
“With Government Regulation No. 39 of 2025, grounded in Article 33 of the 1945 Constitution, people’s mining management is directed toward a more civilized, equitable system oriented toward shared prosperity. This is fully aligned with customary values and national identity,” he asserted.
National Support and Customary Endorsement Strengthen Regional Outreach
Beyond Mandailing Natal, the socialization of Government Regulation No. 39 of 2025 has also been accelerated in various regions, including Lampung, where miners from several provinces participated. IKTN Chairman Basyaruddin stated that the regulation provides legal protection and business certainty for community miners.
He also expressed appreciation to President Prabowo Subianto for the issuance of Government Regulation No. 39 of 2025, which is considered to have opened a legal and secure pathway for people’s mining activities through cooperative-based mechanisms.
The support of Kings, Sultans, Datuk, Queens, and customary leaders across the archipelago, as consolidated within the Indonesian Customary Council (MAI), underscores MAI’s role as a guardian of national values and a bridge between state policy and grassroots aspirations in the regions.
Through MAI forums and media coverage under the Diraja Nusantara network, the socialization of Government Regulation No. 39 of 2025 has gained strong social and cultural legitimacy. This support is expected to accelerate the realization of fair, lawful, and dignified people’s mining governance, positioning communities as the primary stakeholders in the management of the archipelago’s natural wealth.
@Editorial Note:
Reported by the PRIME NEWS POST correspondent, compiled from various media sources. Photo: documentation / public archive
