SABANG

SABANG

We should be proud that we have a famous island here in Aceh. The Island that we call Sabang has been a very important island in Aceh. Sabang used to be a big port of Sumatra, besides Riau, under the Dutch colonialization.
Now, Sabang is planned to be built as a place of world free trade zone, where goods and commodities can be shipped around the world through Sabang. A new regulation was passed in 2000 saying that Sabang was to become one of the places used as free trade center zone (source: http://bappeda.sabangkota.go.id).
Sabang is also a naturally beautiful place for people to visit. It has huge mountains and long beaches. The beaches in Sabang are known as one of unexploited and unpolluted beaches in Indonesia. People do not have any trouble enjoying the beaches; snorkeling, diving, and viewing the coral reefs. Therefore it is no wonder that Sabang attracts people locally, nationally, and internationally as well.
Having good and unpolluted beaches, Sabang has helped people around Indonesia and some around the world see the natural beaches available. But the problem is that the people who come from another country, especially western country, do not comply with applicable regulations here in Sabang. They come in clothes which are not suitable to be wearing around Muslim community
Sabang is a naturally good and beautiful place to visit. It is wonderfully lies in the west of Indonesia, where it leads to Malacca Strait, India and the neighboring countries, and Thailand.

Sabang, besides its positive elements, has negative effect too. It is used by the irresponsible to smuggle drugs, used machineries and clothes.

But first, thinking of the positive elements, Sabang is potentially important for a port. It is located right at the door of Malacca Street where a lot of ships passing through every day. Sabang is gradually growing as a potential port in Indonesia, especially for Acehnese.

Because of its location, Sabang is designed as a port for major shipping activities in Aceh. So shipping of commodities does not depend on Belawan, a port in Medan, anymore. This also cuts costs of shipping commodities, where shipping from Belawan to Banda Aceh is more expensive.

Considering its location on the first point of Malacca Street, Indonesian government wishes that they do not depend on Singapore for importing and exporting commodities and other materials. They want that Sabang can sometime be as major a port in South East Asia as Singapore.

Sabang is also considered one of the best travelling destinations in Indonesia after Danau Toba in Medan. It is considered one of the best because Sabang has beautiful places within the island. It has a Rubiah island where people spend time viewing coral reefs and assorted fishes. It has hills and cliff which are good for hiking. It also has beautiful white beaches under thick shadow of tree. Sabang island is also known for its calm and comfy weather.

It also attracts people because it is the zero kilometer point (kilometer nol) of Indonesia, the starting outer point of Indonesia. This is especially famous to Indonesian residents. They come from Jakarta, Kalimantan, and Sumatera Utara. Going to ‘zero kilometer point’ has a special emotional effect on them. They are proud of having been to the first step of Indonesia land.



Aceh Government plan to design Sabang as an Islamic travel destination. They plan that whoever go to Sabang they have to pay attention to Islamic rules, traditions and customs in Sabang.

However, when many people come to visit Sabang they do not pay attention that they should keep Sabang as clean as it is. They do littering and cut things. This is especially true in the city and at beaches. They do not do it intentionally but they ignore the mutual responsibility to keep Sabang comfortable to visit.


Thus, the most often thing the local residents complain about is the costume code. When the west is also attracted by Sabang, many of them come to visit for the purpose of diving and others are for sightseeing. Indonesia is generally a country where customs and traditions are attached with religion. Not being informed about this situation, the west comes in to Sabang with their cultures in hand. Most of them are wearing clothes that do not fit in Moslem community. They do not give it a care that they have to obey the rules, to not wear indecent clothes or be in indecent manner.

The government has to work hard to make Sabang as a famous island as well as real Islamic travel destination.