Gov’t to Speed Up Waqf Land Certification

Ministry of Religious Affairs and Ministry of Agrarian Affairs and Spatial Planning/National Land Agency (ATR/BPN) have announced plan to speed up the process of land certification for waqf land.

“Ministry of Agrarian Affairs and Spatial Planning/National Land Agency welcomes Ministry of Religious Affairs’ commitment to work hand in hand in facilitating and accelerating the certification of waqf land,” Minister of Religious Affairs Fachrul Razi said in Jakarta, Tuesday (18/8).

Fachrul said that Ministry of Agrarian Affairs and Spatial Planning/National Land Agency has issued Regulation of Minister of Agrarian Affairs and Spatial Planning/National Land Agency that stipulates the ease of certification of waqf land. The Regulation, he added, facilitates the process of waqf land certification, in the event that the waqif (the donor) is unknown, by involving two witnesses. In the event that the nadzir (waqf manager) is not appointed by the Indonesian Waqf Board (BWI), temporary nadzir is sufficient.

In addition, the Regulation also stipulates the registration of waqf land through two mechanisms, namely:

First, Comprehensive Systematic Land Registration (PTSL). In the event that a village has completed land registration, all parcels of land in the village has been registered, including the waqf land.

Second, if the waqf land is not included in the PTSL, the required documents can be submitted directly to the local land office.

“We welcome the policy of Ministry of Agrarian Affairs and Spatial Planning/National Land Agency in facilitating the ease and acceleration of the waqf land certification. The National Land Agency (BPN) is a strategic partner of Ministry of Religious Affairs in accelerating the certification of waqf land,” the Minister said.

In the meantime, Director General for Muslim Community Guidance of Ministry of Religious Affairs Kamaruddin Amin said that he will encourage waqf nadzir in Indonesia to make use of the opportunity. He will also ask Head of Ministry of Religious Affairs Offices in Provinces and Cities/Regencies to encourage all Heads of the local offices of Ministry of Religious Affairs (KUA) to provide assistance to waqf nadzir in accelerating the process of waqf land certification.

“The Muslim wedding officials (Penghulu) and heads of the KUA must care about the waqf and other services related to Muslim communities,” he said. (Ministry of Religious Affairs/EN)

Translated by: Ridwan Ibadurrohman
Reviewed by: Mia Medyana