Change of Polemic Tikus Name’s Island To

Be Harapan and Doa Island

By : Devitha Wulan Haryanti (183804)

A1 Hospitality

Sekolah Tinggi Pariwisata Ambarrukmo Yogyakarta

2018
Change of Polemic Tikus Name’s
Island To Be Harapan and Doa Island

Tikus Island is one of the outermost islands of Bengkulu Province, which is located on
the Indian Ocean Frontier. Tikus Island is located in the west of Bengkulu City with a distance
about 10 km from the city center. It is a small coral island surrounded by many corals that rich in
biological resources and it is one of the tourist forest destinations. The island cluster still looks
natural, it has not been seen touched by the modernization of the development of the local
government, however, its uniqueness is able to make eyes amazed, because its beauty saves
extraordinary tourism potential.

Tikus Island saves the charm and beauty that seems to be drowned and has not been
explored to the maximum for tourism. In here, tourists will be treated, with charming sea views
and beautiful landscapes. The condition of the sea is white sand. At night, this place is a habitat
for hawksbill turtles and green turtles that go ashore to lay eggs. In Tikus Island there will be
many coral ecosystems and marine biota, they are very fascinating. There are many locations that
are certainly safe for diving in there, the seabed with clear water and beautiful coral reefs making
this place a quite interesting marine tourism spot. In this place, you can also channel your
hobbies because there are many different types of fish that hide behind rocks. The beautiful
scenery amazes the eyes during the afternoon when the sun passes to the compound. The orange
round color with sheets slowly descends on the horizon, slowly darkening the island. Getting
this place can take 30 minutes from Tapak Padri Beach, Bengkulu city by boat which is rented by
local fishermen.

*wonderful view of Tikus Island

Four months ago, there was a polemic that Tikus Island would be renamed. Obviously it
received a firm response from the people who refused to change the name of the island. Whereas
since then the government section in the regional secretariat has prepared all the requirements for
the file to be submitted to the center in processing the change of name of Tikus Island. The
change of name is an initiative of the city government, because Tikus Island has been
underestimated and there are no concrete efforts that can be made from various elements of
society. So that the city government is making efforts to save Tikus Island which has been eroded
by the sea and has only left around 0.6 hectares of land.

But, the issue of changing the name of Tikus Island received serious attention from
Forum Komunitas Pemuda Peduli Bengkulu (KPPB), which refused to change the name of the
island because it was considered to injure the history and memories of the people of the island.
According to them, the government should involve and listen to the aspirations of the people
before rolling out the discourse of changing the name of Tikus Island to HD Island. Because
changing the name of an island is not an easy matter. Apart from the eroding aspects of its
historical value, the embedding of the term "Pulau" which was translated as "Island" into English
was also considered to be less nationalist. Because the reasons for tourists visiting Tikus Islands
besides coral reefs and turtle conservation are also due to their unique names. If the name of the
island is changed to HD Island, the uniqueness will be lost. The community also suggested that
the government be diligent in reading books and paying attention to the historical aspects,
because from a number of Tikus Island literature, it kept a lot of important history about the city
of Bengkulu. If the change of the name plan is realized, then the collective memory of the people
who have been handed down and down about the island will be lost. Because the government
should participate in supporting the preservation of the history and culture of the city of
Bengkulu, instead of reducing it. However, from the other side, the city government of Bengkulu
dismissed that changing the name of Tikus Island to HD Island was only a manifestation of the
government's great hopes in an effort to boost the growth of the tourism sector in the city of
Bengkulu.

One cultural observer from Bengkulu University explained that the name of Tikus Island
has a significant history, so it is unfortunate if it must be replaced. Although the name of TIKUS
is ugly and contains a symbol of greed, slums, and bad behavior (corruption), the city
government must maintain that name. That name is already historical should not be cursed.
Changing name is the same as changing events, it cannot be arbitrary because it is not a matter of
name but it is already integrated with Bengkulu. The name should not need to be replaced, but it
must be developed and utilized for the benefit of the community.

So after identifying this problem, I can conclude that the government should think in
wisely in making decisions to replace the original name of Tikus Island. Due to the average of
the Bengkulu people, they opposed the city government's decision to change the name of Tikus
Island. In my opinion it is a natural thing, because for the people of Bengkulu itself it is
something that has been attached to Bengkulu for a long time and has been ingrained. Because if
you just change the name and it doesn't mean just erase history but it destroy history too. If
indeed the government wants to build there with the reason to develop tourism potential, you
don't have to change the name. The name of Tikus Island is inherent in history so it is impossible
for an ancient person to give a name, there must be an event. The government should be able to
read how people in there, not only then obey their tastes and arbitrarily change. This
development is also from the people, for the people, and by the people, so the meaning must be
returned to the benefit of the community, if the community feels there is no benefit, it doesn’t
mean neccessary to do . If it is only a temporary desire, the severity later when there is a change
in the next leader, later assessed by the next leader there is no benefit, then according to taste it
changes again, later the people are confused. So the point is the government should be thinking
twice in making decisions for the future.

The solution to the problem in my opinion:

1. Before the government takes the decision to change the name of the island, it would be
nice if the government listens to people's aspirations at first, because there is a difference
between the government and the local community from the angle of the government and
society. According to the government, maybe this is done on the grounds of tourism.
Whereas the people see it as a fatal mistake and some people may not be open minded to
the world of tourism.

2. Accordding to LAW OF THE REPUBLIC OF INDONESIA NUMBER 1 OF 2014

CONCERNING AMENDMENT TO LAW NUMBER 27 OF 2007 CONCERNING
MANAGEMENT OF SMALL AREAS AND ISLANDS

“Pasal 1 ayat 1 : Management of coastal areas and small islands is a coordination,

planning, utilization, supervision and control of coastal and small island resources
carried out by the government and regional governments, between sectors, between
terrestrial and marine ecosystems, and between science knowledge and
management to improve people's welfare.”

So all management of Tikus Island must to improve people's welfare. If the change of
name doesn’t have any effect, it is better not to, better the government to maintain what
already exists. Building for the continuation of tourism potential in Tikus Island is fine
without having to change its name. We'll see now, Tikus Island is already famous for its
brand and name itself. Many tourists visit there, and does that increase the economic
income of the local residents because of access to Tikus Island? Because access to Tikus
Island itself uses the boat of the fishermen around. If the name of Tikus Island was
replaced later it didn't even become famous. And the economy of the surrounding
community is not prosperous.
3. It is not to be better if the Bengkulu Provincial government cooperates with the
community to explore the potential in the province of Bengkulu, especially Tikus Island.
 It should be possible for the government and the community to exchange expectations,
so what the people want can be accommodated by the government to be realized in the
future.
It is better for the government to improve ecological aspects, namely aspects that affect
environmental / ecosystem sustainability on Tikus Island. So that it can increase the
number of local and foreign tourists visiting Bengkulu, one of them wants to visit Tikus
Island. Suppoorting this, the government must build more complete the facilities. We can
know that Tikus Island itself is being eroded to get smaller land because it is eroded by
the waves that caused the island to only be visited in a certain period of time, where
there is no accommodation and anything, but to allow us to camp there i dont know in
correctly. No matter how the government should to think hardly for creating tourism
potential on the island of mice with such conditions.

So that's the solution that I can convey to the problem of polemics over the changing
name of Tikus Island. However, in my knowledge, it has been canceled by the government of
Bengkulu itself, and also has decided not to change the name of Tikus Island.