On Wednesday, September 18, 2024, thousands of residents from Tanjung Uncang in the Batam Subdistrict of Batu Aji, took to the streets in a massive protest, accusing the Batam city government of dishonesty regarding the provision of clean drinking water.
The demonstrators, primarily from the Putra Jaya residential areas of RW 015 and RW 022, expressed their frustration over the long-standing issue of water scarcity which they claim has been persistently ignored by local authorities.
Residents highlighted that the clean water shortage has been an ongoing issue for years, affecting daily life and forcing them to demand action from the Batam city government.
According to the protesters, the government has failed to fulfill previous agreements regarding water provision. A pact made on June 17, 2023, promising regular water supply starting September of the same year was not honored, escalating the residents’ grievances.
In a bold move, the community coordinators have stated that if the water issues in RW 015 and RW 022 are not resolved, the residents will boycott future elections, highlighting the severity of their demands.
Read More: Residents Protest Water Crisis at BP Batam Office
During the protest, activities at a nearby company, PT Wasko, were disrupted as demonstrators demanded that the business halt operations in solidarity with their cause.
The residents of Putra Jaya are calling for immediate and tangible solutions to the water crisis, emphasizing the need for the Batam government to honor its commitments and restore trust within the community.
In Batam, residents of Putra Jaya took to the streets to protest against the local government’s failure to provide adequate clean drinking water, claiming dishonesty and threatening to boycott elections. The ongoing water crisis has led to significant unrest among the community, impacting both daily life and local businesses.
Source: Fakta Hukum NTT (2024)
