Palembang, S Sumatra (ANTARA News) - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) distributed 5,534 land certificates to residents of South Sumatra Province and 505 waqf land certificates for the development of places of worship at the Palembang Sport and Convention Center on Monday.

Jokowi symbolically distributed land certificates to 12 representatives of all recipients. In addition to the recipients who were unable to attend and several citizens having more than one certificate, some four thousand beneficiaries were present at the event.

He stated that the government`s target of distributing five million certificates in 2017 had been achieved, while it is aiming to hand over seven million certificates in 2018 and nine million certificates in 2019.

"When I visit regions, I always receive a complaint on land dispute from all locations, as a total of 87 million plots of land are not yet certified, so all of them should be certified in 2025," he pointed out.

In addition to Agrarian and Spatial Planning Minister Sofyan Djalil, the event was attended by Chief of the Indonesian Police General Pol Tito Karnavian, Head of the Office of Presidential Staff Moeldoko, and Transportation Minister Budi Karya S.

"If the targets are not achieved, be careful. I have discussed with the respective minister that he/she will quit; that is how it works," he remarked.

According to Jokowi, the ranks of the Agrarian and Spatial Planning Ministry have to work hard to realize the targets.

On the occasion, he also called on communities to maintain a conducive situation and live in harmony during and after the regional head elections to be held across 171 regions in 2018.

"South Sumatra will organize a gubernatorial election and regional head elections in five districts and four cities. The elections are a democratic process. Choose the best leaders in the respective regions. Do not be hostile to neighbors owing to different choices," he stated.

Meanwhile, Djalil noted that in 2017, the land certification target in South Sumatra Province had reached 230 thousand plots of land.

"Same as last year, we are looking for the same target this year," he added.

Reported by Agus Salim
(M052/INE/S012)
EDITED BY INE

Reporter: Martha Herlinawati S
Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2018