False Alert: Ministry of ATR/BPN Clarifies Land Certificate Whitewashing Programme Does Not Exist
Jakarta – The Ministry of Agraria and Tata Ruang (ATR)/Badan Pertanahan Nasional (BPN) has emphatically stated that information circulating on social media regarding a land certificate whitewashing programme is false.
Shamy Ardian, head of the public relations and protocol bureau at the ATR/BPN ministry, said the circulating narrative falsely suggests there are provisions for processing land certificates without paying certain obligations. The ministry therefore clarified that this information does not comply with applicable regulations.
“This confusion in information potentially misleads and harms the public,” he said in an official statement on Thursday (12 March 2026).
“We confirm that information regarding the existence of a land certificate whitewashing programme purportedly carried out by BPN is untrue. To date, the ATR/BPN ministry has never had or implemented a land certificate whitewashing programme,” Shamy stated firmly.
Beyond the false claims about land certificate whitewashing, he continued, information about land tax elimination and free certificate name transfers also lack foundation.
“There is no such thing as whitewashing or waiving obligations outside of regulatory provisions. The land registration acceleration programme that exists is, for instance, Systematic Complete Land Registration (PTSL),” he explained.
“This programme aims to provide legal certainty regarding land rights for the public in a systematic, structured, and accountable manner,” Shamy clarified.
He reminded the public to critically examine various pieces of information promising excessive ease or cost waivers.
“Such information may be false and constitute a form of fraud that could harm the public. We urge the public to always verify information through official ATR/BPN channels, whether via the website, verified social media accounts, or by visiting the local land office directly,” Shamy stressed.
The ATR/BPN ministry, he added, remains committed to providing transparent and accountable land administration services in accordance with applicable laws and regulations.
“This commitment is further strengthened by efforts to protect the public from exposure to incorrect information that could cause misunderstandings or harm,” he concluded.