Batam, Riau Islands - Defense Minister Purnomo Yusgiantoro visited Nipah Island, one of Indonesia's outer islands located in the Riau Islands province on Friday. "The minister took off from Batam navy base by helicopter to Nipah Island. The minister will visit the navy checkpoint, which nearly under water," declared the Riau Islands Government Protocol Officer, Toni, here on Friday. At present, Nipah Island has almost sunk under the sea level due to sand mining activities. The Indonesian government has allocated billions of rupiah to reclaim the island and build a navy checkpoint on it. Previously, Deputy Defense Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin on his visit to Batam had announced that Nipah Island will be converted into a defense and marine economy development area. "We are building the defense infrastructures in Nipah Island. After that, the Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Ministry will build marine economy infrastructures," noted Sjafrie. (*)

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