"The handover of these certificates is in line with the government's commitment to providing legal certainty to the assets related to religious purposes," he noted in a statement received from his office in Jakarta on Saturday.
Antoni made the statement during his participation in the handover of five certificates of waqf lands for two mosques and three foundations in a mosque in Palembang City, South Sumatra, on Friday (March 1).
He underlined that the handover of waqf land certificates constituted a concrete implementation of President Joko Widodo's instruction to newly appointed Agrarian Affairs and Spatial Planning Minister Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono to continue striving to certify all waqf lands.
He noted that the instruction is meant to ensure that the government safeguards religious history and legacies in the country.
The deputy minister then appealed to residents attending the handover process to immediately submit reports and propose land certification to the government if they seek to donate their uncertified lands as waqf assets.
"Let us ensure that all religious assets are protected by a legal basis by certifying them. I believe the offices of the National Land Agency will wholeheartedly respond to your applications (for certification)," he told locals.
He expressed belief that certified waqf lands would facilitate people to manage and optimize the assets in accordance with their supposed purposes, resulting in even greater benefits for holding of religious and social activities.
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Translator: Aji C, Tegar Nurfitra
Editor: Yuni Arisandy Sinaga
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