Fixing Village Treasury Land Governance After Corruption Cases in Sleman

Sleman (ANTARA) - Sultanate land is an invaluable asset for the people of the Special Region of Yogyakarta (DIY). As part of the kagungan dalem, this land is not merely a physical asset but also carries historical, cultural and spiritual dimensions.

Part of the Sultanate land is used as Village Treasury Land (TKD), managed by village governments for the benefit of local communities. However, in recent years, several corruption cases in TKD management have tarnished the noble values attached to Sultanate land.

Cases in Caturtunggal Village (2023), Margokaton (2025) and Condongcatur (2026) have served as a stark warning over the governance of Sultanate land in DIY.

Where lies the vulnerability that has made village treasury land so easily misappropriated?

Regulation versus implementation

The root cause of the tangled misuse of TKD often stems from a poor understanding of the regulations.

Although its governance is regulated under Governor of DIY Regulation (Pergub) Number 24 of 2024, its implementation in the field still leaves various problems.

In a number of cases, village officials are suspected of ignoring permitting procedures that involve the Panitikismo of the Keraton Ngayogyokarto Hadiningrat, as well as the DIY Land and Spatial Planning Agency (Dispertaru).

The permitting process, which is considered lengthy, is often cited as the reason, even though the mechanism was precisely designed to protect Sultanate land from misuse.

When rules are ignored, opportunities for abuse become increasingly open. Compliance with regulation has been defeated by short-term interests aimed at obtaining profit.