National Strategic Project Dilemmas: A Maslahah-Mafsadah Analysis of the PadangÔÇôSicincin Toll Road

Abstract

The core issue in this research is the implementation of a National Strategic Project policyÔÇöspecifically, the construction of the Padang-Sicincin Toll RoadÔÇöwhich has had significant impacts on surrounding communities. This study aims to identify and explain the forms of maslahah (public benefit) and mafsadah (harm) caused by the project, as well as the underlying factors contributing to those impacts. The research uses a field study approach with qualitative methods, systematically analyzing legal materials to arrive at objective conclusions that address the research questions. Data were collected through interviews and direct observation. The findings reveal that the project has caused more mafsadah than maslahah for local communities. The researcher identified three forms of maslahah and eight forms of mafsadah. The benefits include the reduction of unproductive land, the creation of new business opportunities, and the expansion of employment. The harms include the loss of food sources, property damage, environmental pollution, reduced access for local travel, exclusion from construction employment, lack of access to the toll road itself, the emergence of social conflicts, and the erosion of cultural values. These outcomes are influenced by three primary factors: the condition of the land prior to construction, the government's response to the project's impact, and the mindset of the affected communities.