Minister Nusron Wahid, speaking in Cirebon, West Java, on Saturday, said that the certification covers both waqf (Islamic endowment) and non-waqf land used for religious purposes.
“Over the next three years, we aim to finalize land certification for all places of worship and educational institutions, whether the land is waqf or not,” Wahid informed.
Although educational institutions such as Islamic boarding schools and schools established under legal foundations are not typically allowed land ownership, Wahid noted that exceptions can be made for certain types of educational institutions.
He emphasized the urgent need for land certification to prevent potential conflicts and legal disputes, particularly in cases where land use changes or when a foundation management transitions. So far, only 38 percent of the targeted 700 thousand land plots have been certified.
Wahid informed that the main issue in waqf land certification is the slow issuance of the Waqf Pledge Deed (Akta Ikrar Wakaf), which is the responsibility of the Ministry of Religious Affairs.
“For waqf land, the delay usually lies in the AIW process. That’s under the Religious Affairs Ministry. We hope the process can be accelerated from their side,” he said.
He then reaffirmed the government’s commitment to promoting cross-ministerial collaboration to ensure smoother certification for both waqf and non-waqf land used for religious and educational purposes.
Through this accelerated effort, the government aims to ensure the long-term social function of community land, while providing legal protection for its ownership and use.
“Therefore, we must prevent this from turning into a dispute in the future,” Wahid added.
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Translator: Fathnur Rohman, Kuntum Khaira Riswan
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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