A new map shows the colour of Pulau Manis has been changed to red.
Following a Singapore-based developer’s map blunder, which gave the wrong impression that Indonesia’s Pulau Manis islands are part of the city-state, Jakarta announced on Wednesday (1 June) that the issue has been resolved.
“The mistake has been corrected,” said Indonesian Foreign Ministry spokesman Arrmanatha Nasir, reported TODAYonline.
It all began when Funtasy Island Development (FID), which is developing the six islets north of Batam into an eco-friendly resort, uploaded a map of Pulau Manis and Singapore, wherein both were blue in colour.
According to the developer, the first map posted on its website was meant to show that the resort is near the city-state, or a ferry ride of around 16km. “We have no intention to declare or imply that it belongs to Singapore.” It has since changed the area’s colour to red to show that it’s part of Indonesia.
However, the diplomatic row prompted the Indonesian armed forces to assert their sovereignty over Pulau Manis, by planting their country’s flag on the highest point of one of the islands.
Pulau Manis, now being marketed by the developer as Funtasy Island, is touted as the region’s biggest eco-park resort. The 328ha development will feature a theme park, beach club and dolphin lagoon villas.
In a report by The Straits Times, Funtasy Island site manager, Oke Yusma Nurjaman, previously revealed that Rp 2 trillion (S$201.6 million) was invested into the resort. It has sold all of its units, with most of the buyers hailing from Singapore.
Romesh Navaratnarajah, Senior Editor at PropertyGuru, edited this story. To contact him about this or other stories, email romesh@propertyguru.com.sg
