For the regional offices that have not implemented the program, please continue to coordinate with the local BPN.
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Religious Affairs Ministry has urged provincial and district/city Religious Affairs Offices to expedite waqf land certification in collaboration with the Agrarian Affairs and Spatial Planning Ministry/National Agency for Land Affairs (BPN).

"In 2022, our target is to get the certification for around 21 thousand waqf lands (parcels),” director of alms and waqf empowerment at the ministry, Tarmizi Tohor, said in a press release issued here on Friday.

According to data from the Waqf Information System (SIWAK), 175,216 waqf land parcels have not got certification, he said.

Expediting the certification program will require a joint commitment from the central and regional governments, he said.

The director then lauded a number of regional Religious Affairs Offices for promptly following up on the program in their respective regions.

“For the regional offices that have not implemented the program, please continue to coordinate with the local BPN," he urged.

Religious Affairs Minister Yaqut Cholil Qoumas and Agrarian Affairs and Spatial Planning Minister/Head of BPN Sofyan Jalil had signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) in Jakarta at the end of 2021 to accelerate the certification program.

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The MoU covers a number of cooperation agreements, including the implementation of waqf land certification, exchange of data and information on waqf land, as well as prevention and assistance in handling waqf land issues.

Qoumas said that waqf land certification is part of the government's commitment to ensuring the legality of waqf land to avoid potential loss or misuse of the lands.

"The government is striving to ensure that waqf land governance is transparent and accountable. Through the certification program, it is hoped that the legality of waqf assets can be maintained. In addition, it will make it easier for us to manage them," he added.

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Translator: Asep Firmansyah, Uyu Liman
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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