Please Note! Certification Of Places Of Worship There Should Be No Discrimination

Minister of Agrarian and Spatial Planning/Head of the National Land Agency (ATR/BPN) Hadi Tjahjanto

JAKARTA - Minister of Agrarian Affairs and Spatial Planning/Head of the National Land Agency (ATR/BPN) Hadi Tjahjanto asked central and regional officials to oversee the completion of certification of places of worship, without any discrimination.

"I convey that central and regional officials for places of worship must not discriminate, we will solve everything without exception. So all religious people can carry out their worship solemnly without interruption because they have legal certainty on their land rights," Hadi said through his official statement in Jakarta, Friday, January 20.

On Thursday (19/1), Hadi signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Ministry of ATR/BPN and the ADEvent Church on Seventh Day in Indonesia (GMAHK) represented by the Chairman of the GMAHK Central Management, Rev. Sugih Sitorus.

This Memorandum of Understanding entitled "The Implementation of Land Registration, Assistance for Prevention and Handling of Land Problems Assets of the Church AD Advent on the Seventh Day in Indonesia".

In his remarks, Hadi said that the implementation of the MoU was a follow-up to the meeting on October 25, 2022 at the Office of the Ministry of ATR/BPN. In addition, this is part of the commitment of the Ministry of ATR/BPN to protect land assets and places of worship belonging to all religious communities in Indonesia.

"The Ministry of ATR/BPN has the task of completing the certification program through Complete Systematic Land Registration (PTSL), which today has reached 101.1 million registered plots of land. PTSL also touched land, places of worship," Hadi said as quoted by Antara.

Hadi emphasized that this MoU is not only ceremonial, but part of the implementation in the field. With the help of all components, he believes that land problems for places of worship will be resolved in 2024.

"Therefore, if someone interferes with it, there is a land mafia, I will not hesitate, I will beat it!" he said.

Meanwhile, the Chairman of the GMAHK Central Board, Rev. Sugih Sitorus expressed his gratitude for the signing of the MoU.

"We, brothers and sisters, are very proud to have the Minister as a high-ranking official in the country of Indonesia, a very humble person, willing to help, and serve us," said Rev. Sugih.

"We believe, you not only like serving us here but all Indonesian people. I believe that even the Deputy Ministers and all existing ranks also serve the people. I am happy that the Minister said that before 2024 the land affairs will be completed," he said.