EduAsiaNews, Bangka – The Faculty of Law at Bangka Belitung University (UBB) has once again demonstrated its commitment to implementing the Tri Dharma of Higher Education through its Community Development Program (Bina Desa), held at the Sempan Village Office, Bangka Regency, on Monday (July 7, 2026). In collaboration with the Bangka Belitung Islands Representative Office of the Ombudsman of the Republic of Indonesia, the program was conducted under the theme “Consumer Protection in the Energy and Environmental Sectors.”
The initiative was prompted by the relatively low level of public awareness regarding consumer rights, particularly in the energy and environmental sectors, which are closely linked to the community’s basic needs. Through an educational approach, the UBB Faculty of Law sought to enhance public understanding of legal principles that can be applied in everyday life.
Sempan Village was selected as the venue due to the community’s ongoing challenges, including environmental management, waste disposal issues, and land disputes involving oil palm plantations between local residents and private companies. In addition, data from the Bangka Belitung Islands Representative Office of the Ombudsman of the Republic of Indonesia indicate that Bangka Regency is among the regions with a relatively high number of public complaints concerning public service delivery.
The program forms part of the Faculty of Law’s strategic community engagement initiatives. The implementation team consisted of Prof. Dwi Haryadi, S.H., M.H., and Abdul Fatah, M.Sc., who were officially appointed by the leadership of the UBB Faculty of Law to carry out the Bina Desa program in Sempan Village.
Prof. Dwi Haryadi emphasized that consumer protection issues in the energy and environmental sectors are of critical importance because they directly affect public welfare. According to him, many members of the public remain unaware of their rights as consumers, including the right to receive reliable electricity services, transparent information regarding energy services, access to fuel and gas supplies, and effective complaint mechanisms when service disruptions occur.
He further noted that communities also face a range of other issues, including substandard electrical installations, energy prices that do not comply with applicable regulations, land ownership disputes, and environmental pollution resulting from irresponsible exploitation of natural resources.
“Through this program, we aim to raise public awareness that citizens have rights guaranteed by law to receive quality energy services, enjoy a healthy environment, and obtain legal protection as consumers. At the same time, the community also has a responsibility to help preserve the sustainability of the natural resources surrounding them,” said Prof. Dwi Haryadi.
Meanwhile, Acting Head of the Bangka Belitung Islands Representative Office of the Ombudsman of the Republic of Indonesia, Kgs. Chris Fither, explained that the Ombudsman is responsible for overseeing the implementation of public services, including those related to the energy and environmental sectors.
During his presentation, he outlined various forms of maladministration that continue to occur, including delays in service delivery, procedural irregularities, and the failure to provide services that citizens are entitled to receive.
“The Ombudsman remains committed to preventing maladministration through public education initiatives. We also provide avenues for citizens to submit complaints regarding public services, enabling the Ombudsman to serve as a bridge between the public and service providers,” he stated.
The Bina Desa program was delivered through legal awareness sessions and interactive discussions involving village officials, community leaders, and residents of Sempan Village. Topics covered included an introduction to Indonesia’s Consumer Protection Law, consumer rights in the energy and environmental sectors, complaint procedures through the Ombudsman, responsible energy management, the utilization of environmentally friendly energy sources, and the importance of public participation in environmental conservation.
Through this initiative, the UBB Faculty of Law hopes to strengthen public understanding of both consumer rights and responsibilities while fostering greater legal awareness in addressing issues related to public services, energy, and the environment. The collaboration among the university, the village government, and the Ombudsman is expected to reinforce legal protection for the community and contribute to improving the quality of public services across the Bangka Belitung Islands Province.
(Source: UBB Public Relations)
