An ad that appeared in www.privateislandsonline.com mentioned that there are 3 islands for sale in the area of Mentawai islands, a part of West Sumatra province. The third island is the island of Macaroni, Siloinak Island and Kandui Island. Macaroni Island area is about 14 hectares sold at a price of U.S. $ 4 million, the 24 hectares area of Silionak island valued at U.S. $ 1.6 million, while the extent of 26 hectares Kandui Island valued at U.S. $ 8 million.

The sites that display the ads run by the Private Islands Inc. that addressed at 550 Queen St. East Suite 330 Toronto ON M5A 1 / 2, Canada was soon reaping criticism from many parties. Because, in Indonesia there are laws that prohibit non-Indonesian citizens to own land in Indonesia. Foreign nationals may only have a right to cultivate (HGU) and management.



Governor of West Sumatra, Gamawan Fauzi, immediately made a statement that the ad is untrue. According to him, during these three islands are leased and managed by foreigners as tourist attractions. The ad is supposed to be selling shares of the resorts that have been built by investors in the three islands and not selling the whole island.

A number of islands and resorts in the region of the Mentawai Islands is now managed by investors from Australia, Italy, French and other foreign nations. The islands became a foreign attraction because the waves around it, including one of the best in the world that suitable for surfing.