In November 2024, students at State Elementary School protested against the persistent air pollution caused by Sais Jaya Abadi. During the protest, they emphasized that for the past two years, the foul odor from the fishmeal processing factory had continuously disrupted their learning environment. The protest highlighted the school’s ongoing frustration, as previous complaints to local authorities had failed to bring lasting solutions. Students and teachers demanded immediate action to address the issue, stressing that the pollution had severely impacted their daily activities for far too long.¹ In December 2024, dozens of residents from three villages — Sumber Rame, Sumber Waru, and Wringinanom — protested against the plant. They complained about the factory’s unpleasant odor and inadequate waste management. Community leaders organized a meeting at the village hall, bringing together the heads of Sumber Waru and Wringinanom villages, Wringinanom district officials, company representatives, and local residents. Residents voiced their dissatisfaction with the company’s corporate social responsibility efforts, arguing that the support provided by the plant did not compensate for the environmental damage it had caused. The residents outlined several conditions for the company, including hiring at least 70 percent of its workforce from the local community and improving waste management practices. Williem Mintarja, the legal representative of Sais Jaya Abadi, promised to follow up on the residents’ demands and committed to finding the best possible solution. If the company failed to meet their demands, the residents planned to escalate their protest with a larger demonstration to push for a fair resolution. They said they hoped Sais Jaya Abadi would take greater responsibility for environmental protection and the well-being of the local community.² The air pollution caused by Sais Jaya Abadi also sparked complaints from neighboring villages, particularly Sumberbaru. “The stench is unbearable—it smells like a decaying animal. Even though my house is far from the factory, whenever the wind blows in our direction, the odor becomes overwhelming. People here are furious about this situation,” said S, a resident of Sumberwaru, when contacted by reporters. The controversy surrounding Sais Jaya Abadi was a frequent topic of discussion in local coffee shops, where frustrated residents voiced their concerns. “If no solution is found, it’s better to just shut the factory down. It has caused too much distress to the community,” said another resident of Sumberwaru.³ “The local community is very disturbed by unpleasant odors such as rotten smells,” wrote one commenter who reviewed the site on Google Maps in 2024. “People can't breathe fresh air during the rainy season.”⁴

Sais Jaya Abadi did not respond to a request for comment.⁵