MAKASSAR (ISL News) - Deputy Chairman of Commission VI of the Indonesian House of Representatives who is also the Chairman of the Recess Working Visit Team of Commission VI of the Indonesian House of Representatives to South Sulawesi, Nurdin Halid expressed his appreciation to PT Pelabuhan Indonesia (Persero) or Pelindo for having made various excellent preparations during the Eid homecoming season and the return flow, where a very high surge in passengers always occurs during that period.
"We also appreciate the public's enthusiasm for using sea transportation which is still very high, but thank God all of this has been successfully carried out well by Pelindo and parties who are also working together with BUMN which are the drivers of this national logistics sector," said Nurdin during a Recess Working Visit in the context of the Recess Period of Session II of the 2024-2025 Session Year which took place at Four Points by Sheraton Makassar, Wednesday (April 9, 2025).
"Specifically, we are grateful to Pelindo because the surge in passengers this year is indeed high, but there are almost no problems with order, discipline, and smoothness," he added.
As a state-owned enterprise engaged in port services, Nurdin continued, Pelindo plays a very important role in maintaining the smooth flow of homecoming, and for that he is grateful because everything went very well. "In the future, to minimize various obstacles, various improvement efforts must continue to be made," he said.
"Of course we hope that there will be an increase in capacity, improvement of facilities, security and health protocols to be the main priority. Given the high number of passengers during the homecoming season, overall, although always facing many challenges, Pelindo's contribution in dealing with the surge in passengers and ensuring smoothness is very large and inevitable and we give very high appreciation for the smooth flow of the past homecoming [Lebaran 1446 Hijriah/2025 AD," added Nurdin.
However, he still highlighted the conditions that occurred some time ago at Makassar Port, namely several street vendors who insisted on selling on passenger ships that were docked at the pier by "trying" all means to be able to get on the ship.
"It is very dangerous and must be stopped. Don't let [hawkers selling on ships], it must be regulated. That is my special order with other members of Commission VI of the Indonesian House of Representatives," Nurdin emphasized.
Prepare Three Piers
Pelindo President Director Arif Suhartono said that related to the homecoming and return flow of Eid al-Fitr 1446 Hijriah/2025 AD, specifically at Makassar Port, Pelindo has prepared 3 docks to serve passenger ships during the 2025 Eid Transportation period.
"We have also directly checked the condition of the Makassar Port Passenger Terminal which currently has an area of approximately 6,500 M2 and is equipped with a Temporary Waiting Room (RTS), X-Ray, and Garbarata," said Arif.
According to him, the peak of the homecoming flow at Makassar Port occurred on D-10 or March 21, 2025 with 7,373 passengers and 605 vehicles. While the peak of the return flow was on D+6 or April 6, 2025 with 7,653 passengers.
Existing data records that the increase in passenger flow at Soekarno Hatta Makassar Port during this year's Eid homecoming season was 80,347 people or an increase of 8.60% from 2024.
Arif Suhartono said that all facilities for passengers, especially at the Port of Makassar, have been prepared and all are in proper condition. "Where we also provide facilities for the elderly and also for children so that when waiting for the ship they are not bored, and also several facilities such as health and so on. We prepare everything," he said.
Regarding the condition of Makassar Port circulating on social media, the President Director of Pelindo explained that it was the condition during Nataru (Christmas and New Year). "During the run-up to Eid al-Fitr, it was much less where there were no more street vendors boarding the ship. We have also conveyed to the ship operator that the ship operator's policy is to not allow street vendors to enter the ship."
Arif added, when the Minister of Transportation Dudy Purwagandhi visited the Port of Makassar while conducting direct monitoring of the flow of homecoming during Eid al-Fitr, his party had emphasized that street vendors were not allowed to board the ship due to safety and security issues. "It is still prohibited [for street vendors to board the ship]."
Pelindo President Director Arif Suhartono continued, not only prohibiting but also taking various steps and efforts, namely through the CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) program or what is now called Social and Environmental Responsibility (TJSL) so that in the future it can be more sustainable. "And the first step, we conduct data collection on the number of hawkers. We record the seasonal hawkers and we work together with the local government. In the sense that we also monitor all of the RT and RW. So this is one solution that we take so that the resolution is more comprehensive."
"We are trying to create a more permanent solution. Not just fencing them with physical fences or additional security. But how to help them find income-generating activities. That's what we do and use CSR or TJSL Pelindo," he said.
The President Director of Pelindo also expressed his gratitude for the appreciation given by Commission VI of the Indonesian House of Representatives for Pelindo's performance so far, especially in anticipating the flow of homecoming and return of Eid al-Fitr 1446 Hijriah. "We will certainly continue to strive to improve and maximize services to all people and service users," concluded Arif Suhartono.
(ISL News Editorial Team/Pelindo Public Relations Reg. 4t/email:islnewstv@gmail.com) .
