Matang Pasi – a small Acehnese village in Peudada District, Bireuen Regency
Matang Pasi is a village-level settlement in Aceh Province, Indonesia, specifically within Bireuen Regency (Kabupaten Bireuen), administratively belonging to Kecamatan Peudada. Geographically, it is situated in the northern part of Sumatra island, at approximate coordinates 5.2° north latitude and 96.6° east longitude. Bireuen Regency lies south of the Strait of Malacca, east of Banda Aceh, in the interior of Aceh Province, and was itself established on October 4, 1999, from the western districts of the former North Aceh Regency. In the case of Matang Pasi, comprehensive settlement-level statistical or encyclopedic data are not yet publicly available, so the environment is presented below based on the verifiable characteristics of the broader region and Bireuen Regency.
General overview
Matang Pasi is one of the villages in Kecamatan Peudada, which administratively falls under the jurisdiction of Bireuen Regency. Bireuen Regency covers an area of 1,796.97 square kilometers and had a population of 436,418 at the time of the 2020 census; according to official estimates from mid-2025, this figure has risen to 464,776. The regency, which faces the Strait of Malacca with a northeastern coastal strip, maintains an economy primarily based on agricultural and fishing activities. Acehnese villages, including those in Peudada District, typically preserve close community and religious traditions, as Aceh Province holds special autonomous status throughout Indonesia and, unlike other parts of the country, operates under a Sharia-based local legal system. No publicly available, detailed demographic or infrastructure data exist regarding Matang Pasi itself, so conclusions about it are based on the general characteristics of Bireuen Regency.
Real estate and investment
Publicly available, settlement-level real estate market data specific to Matang Pasi are not accessible. In the broader context of Bireuen Regency, the real estate market is characterized by relatively moderate activity, as the region is primarily agricultural and fishing-oriented, situated away from the country's economic and tourism focus (Bali, Java). It is worth noting that in Indonesia, foreign nationals—according to general Indonesian land ownership regulations—cannot acquire full ownership rights (Hak Milik) over real property; for them, primarily longer-term leasehold (Hak Sewa) or other legal titles distinct from nominal ownership are available. In Aceh Province, the Sharia-based local regulations and autonomous status likewise represent a particular legal framework, which should be consulted with local legal experts before making investment decisions. In smaller villages of Peudada District, and presumably in Matang Pasi, real estate prices are lower compared to Sumatran averages, though infrastructure development is also more modest. Overall, this characterizes the area rather as one serving local resident-buyer needs than as an active investment destination.
Safety and security
Independent, reliable public safety statistics specific to Matang Pasi are not available. In the context of Bireuen Regency and Aceh Province as a whole, important historical context is that the region was affected by armed conflict between the Acehnese independence movement (Gerakan Aceh Merdeka, GAM) and Indonesian government forces from the 1970s until the Helsinki peace agreement of 2005. The December 26, 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and the resulting tsunami also severely affected the region, including Bireuen Regency. Lasting peace has prevailed since 2005, and Aceh Province has been politically stabilized since then. In contemporary Acehnese villages, community and religious norms generally play a strong regulatory role; however, in the absence of specific data on local perceptions of public safety, generalizing statements should be avoided.
Tourist attractions
Named tourist attractions regarding Matang Pasi are not found in publicly available, verifiable sources. The broader Bireuen Regency, with its coastal strip facing the Strait of Malacca, potentially offers coastal landscape, while inland areas feature mountainous and agricultural terrain; however, based on available source material, no claims can be made about specific, named points of interest. Regarding Aceh Province in general, the most visited sites are most readily accessible from the provincial capital, Banda Aceh, where a memorial site and museum connected to the 2004 tsunami, as well as the Baiturrahman Grand Mosque, are well-known attractions—these are, however, several hundred kilometers west of Matang Pasi and Bireuen Regency. This article refrains from identifying specific tourist destinations accessible in Peudada District and its immediate vicinity, as verified sources regarding them are not available.
Summary
Matang Pasi is a small Acehnese village located in Peudada District of Bireuen Regency in Aceh Province, for which comprehensive, independent statistical or encyclopedic data are not yet publicly available. The characteristics of the area are defined by the broader framework of Bireuen Regency: a region that became independent in 1999, predominantly agricultural and fishing-oriented, operating under Aceh Province's autonomous legal system, and whose history has been influenced by both the GAM conflict and the 2004 tsunami. For those wishing to learn more about the area—whether for residential or investment purposes—it is advisable to consult local administrative sources and legal counsel.
