Gov’ to Tighten Land Rights on the Concession

President Jokowi answers questions from community during a dialogue at Jamiatul Huda Mosque, Padang, West Sumatra, Monday (21/5) afternoon (Photo: Human Relations Division/Rahmat).

Responding to complaints from the communities about land concessions saying that lands were occupied only by rich people, President Joko ‘Jokowi’ Widodo questioned about which party distributing it. “I never distributed even a meter. What we have done now is asset redistribution and agrarian reform,” President Jokowi firmly said in a dialogue with community at Jamiatul Huda Mosque, Padang, West Sumatra, on Monday (21/5) afternoon.

According to the President, the Government takes over only abandoned lands which then redistributed to pesantren (Islamic boarding school), mass organizations, individuals, and business groups. Based on current data, 1,088,000 hectares lands were redistributed and next year the Government has set a target of 4.3 million hectares, the President added.

The Head of State underlined to redistribute a land is not an easy task. The Government strives to distribute only productive lands and to tighten land rights so it does not handed over to certain people only, President Jokowi further said.

The President admitted there are some untruth issues so it needs to be confirmed and corrected. Therefore, President Jokowi invites all communities to work together to make Indonesia a much better country.

Accompanying the President on the event were First Lady Ibu Iriana, Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung, Minister of Transportation Budi K. Sumadi, Minister of Public Works and Public Housing Basuki Hadimuljono, Presidential Advisory Council Sidarto Danusubroto, Vice Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Archandra Tahar, and Governor of West Sumatra Province Irwan Prayitno. (DNS/ES) (EPI/YM/Naster)