Morotai Island Regency
Kabupaten Pulau Morotai
Regency
Coat of arms of Morotai Island Regency
Coat of arms
Motto(s): 
Podiki De Porigaho
(Let's Unite)
Location within Maluku Islands
Location within Maluku Islands
Morotai Island Regency is located in North Maluku
Morotai Island Regency
Morotai Island Regency
Location within North Maluka and Indonesia
Morotai Island Regency is located in Indonesia
Morotai Island Regency
Morotai Island Regency
Morotai Island Regency (Indonesia)
Coordinates: 2°18′N 128°25′E / 2.300°N 128.417°E / 2.300; 128.417
Country Indonesia
Province North Maluku
Incorporated26 November 2008[1]
CapitalDaruba
Government
 • RegentBenny Laos
 • Vice RegentAsrun Padoma
Area
 • Total2,336.6 km2 (902.2 sq mi)
Population
 (mid 2022 estimate)
 • Total78,270
 • Density33/km2 (87/sq mi)
 [2]
Time zoneUTC+9 (IEST)
Area code(+62) 921
Websitepulaumorotaikab.go.id

Morotai Island Regency (Indonesian: Kabupaten Pulau Morotai) is a regency of North Maluku province, Indonesia, located on Morotai Island. It covers an area of 2,336.6 km2 including the smaller Rao Island to the west of Morotai. The population was 52,860 at the 2010 census[3] and 74,436 at the 2020 census;[4] the official estimate as at mid 2022 was 78,270.[2]

The island is the location of the last known Japanese holdout, Teruo Nakamura, who surrendered in 1974, almost 30 years after the end of hostilities in 1945.

History

During the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, Morotai was generally within the sphere of influence of the powerful sultanate on the island of Ternate. It was the core of a larger region, called Moro, that included the island and the coastline of Halmahera closest to Morotai to the south.

In the mid-sixteenth century, the island was also the site of a Portuguese Jesuit mission. The Muslim states on Ternate and Halmahera resented the outpost for its proselytising activities, and managed to drive the mission from the island in 1571, as a part of a larger Portuguese retreat in the region. In the seventeenth century, Ternate further exerted its power over Morotai by repeatedly forcing major parts of the population to move off the island. Early in the century most of the population was moved to Dodinga, a small town in a strategic spot on Halmahera's west coast. Later, in 1627 and 1628, Sultan Hamzah of Ternate had much of the Christian population of the island moved to Malayu, on Ternate, where they could be more easily controlled.

World War II

The island was captured by the Japanese in early 1942. Morotai's southern plain was taken by American forces in September 1944 during the Battle of Morotai, and used as a staging point for the Allied invasion of the Philippines in early 1945, and of Borneo in May and June of that year. Japanese soldier Teruo Nakamura was discovered in the Morotai jungle in 1974, as one of the World War II Japanese soldiers who held out subsequent to the Japanese military's surrender.

Post-independence

Morotai became its own regency on 29 October 2008, separating from the North Halmahera Regency.[5]

Geography

Morotai is a rugged, forested island lying to the north of Halmahera. It has an area of some 2,336.6 square kilometres (902.2 sq mi), including Rao Island off the west coast of Morotai. It stretches 80 kilometres (50 mi) north-south and no more than 42 kilometres (26 mi) wide. The regency's largest town is Daruba, on the island's south coast. Almost all of Morotai's numerous villages are coastal settlements; a paved road linking those on the east coast starts from Daruba and will eventually reach Bere-Bere, the principal town on Morotai's east coast, 68 kilometres (42 mi) from Daruba.

Administration

At the 2010 census, the regency was divided into five districts (kecamatan), but a sixth district has subsequently been added by cutting off Rao Island from Morotai Selatan Barat District. The districts are tabulated below with their areas and their populations at the 2010 census[3] and 2020 census,[4] together with the official estimates as at mid 2022.[2] The table also includes the locations of the district administrative centres, the number of administrative villages (all rural desa) in each district, and the post codes.

Kode
Wilayah		Name of
District
(kecamatan)		English
name		Actual
location		Area
in
km2		Pop'n
census
2010		Pop'n
census
2020		Pop'n
Estimate
mid 2022		Admin
centre		No.
of
villages		Post
codes
82.07.01Morotai SelatanSouth MorotaiSouth Morotai379.2517,54728,57930,842Daruba2597771
82.07.05Morotai TimurEast MorotaiSoutheast Morotai342.017,77910,84611,357Sangowa1597771
- 97777
82.07.02Morotai Selatan BaratSouthwest MorotaiWest Morotai557.1211,0789,0539,400Wayabula1597770
82.07.04Morotai UtaraNorth MorotaiNortheast Morotai478.319,22611,56011,857Bere-Bere1497773
82.07.03Morotai JayaGreat MorotaiNorth Morotai519.857,0679,5889,987Sopi1497772
82.07.06Pulau RaoRao Islandoff west coast60.06(a)4,8104,827Leo-Leo Rao597770
Totals2,336.6052,86074,43678,270Daruba88

Note: (a) the population in 2010 of Rao Island is included in the figure for Morotai Selatan Barat District, from which it was cut out.

Economy

The island is heavily wooded and produces timber and resin and has a subsistence fishing industry.

Energy

Currently 3MW Diesel generators across 3 locations one with 2MW, and 2 at 0.5MW. The electrification ratio is reported as 80%. Eight potential locations for micro-hydro were identified by ESDM/KKP.

Morotai Aerodrome

The provincial government make an effort to turn Pitu Airport into an international aerodrome to boost tourists.[6] 'Pitu' means seven due to they have seven lanes of take off and landing built in World War II. It has now been renamed Leo Wattimena Airport as a commercial airport.

References

  • Andaya, Leonard (1993). The world of Maluku: eastern Indonesia in the early modern period. Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press.
  • Villiers, John (1988). Las Yslas de Esperar en Dios: The Jesuit Mission in Moro 1546–1571. Modern Asian Studies 22(3):593-606.
  1. ↑ Law Number 53 of the Year 2008 about the Formation of Morotai Island Regency in North Maluku Province (Indonesian: Undang-Undang Nomor 53 Tahun 53 tentang Pembentukan Kabupaten Pulau Morotai di Provinsi Maluku Utara)
  2. 1 2 3 Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2023, Kabupaten Pulau Morotai Dalam Angka 2023 (Katalog-BPS 1102001.8207)
  3. 1 2 Biro Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2011.
  4. 1 2 Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2021.
  5. ↑ "UU 53 Tahun 2008" (PDF). People's Representative Council (in Indonesian). Retrieved 15 May 2018.
  6. ↑ "Morotai airport to be turned into international aerodrome".
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