Use Your Land Certificates Wisely, President Jokowi Says

Recipients of land certificates raise their certificates up in the air before President Jokowi, at the distribution of land certificates, in Cilacap, Central Java, Monday (25/2). (Photo by: Rahmat/ PR Division)

President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo called on the people to think carefully before using land certificates as a collateral for bank loan.

“Please calculate it first and assess by yourself whether you can pay the installment every month or not. If you don’t think you can do it, do not take the loans. Just keep the certificate safe at home,” President Jokowi said at the distribution of 1,500 land certificates in Cilacap, Central Java, Monday (25/2).

The Head of State also reminded the certificate recipients that once they receive the loan, they must not spend the money on things which are not necessary, adding that the money must be used to have capital to start a business or for investment.

“Don’t use the money to buy motorcycle. Once you cannot make the monthly payment, dealer can take your vehicle back. You have only 6 months at the most to enjoy your motorcycle. Trust me,” the President said.

On that occasion, President Jokowi told the people that the Government had been speeding up the distribution of land certificate because he always received complaints from the people during his working visits to the regions regarding land dispute and agrarian matters. “It happens everywhere, not only in Java, but also in Sumatra, Kalimantan, Sulawesi, Bali, East Nusa Tenggara, West Nusa Tenggara, and also in Papua,” the President said.

According to President Jokowi, land disputes occur since the Government previously only issued 500,000 certificates per year. Consequently, he added, out of 126 million parcels of land in Indonesia, only 46 millions of them had been certified as of 2015 and the remaining 80 million certificates are yet to be issued.

“That is why we’ve been speeding up the certificate issuance since 2017. The distribution of land certificates has increased from 500,000 to 5 million certificates in 2017, 7 million certificates in 2018, and 9 million certificates this year,” the President firmly said.

With land certificates, the President expressed belief that someone cannot easily claim to own land because in the certificate the name of the owner, location, and area of ??land are written down. President Jokowi also told the people who already received the certificate to put it in a plastic cover and to make a copy of it so that if the certificate was lost, the copy of it will make reissuance process easier. (FID/RAH/ES)

Translated by : Rany Anjany Subachrum
Edited by : Muhardi/M. Ersan Pamungkas