Yusril: Blang Padang Land Must Be Returned as an Aceh Sultanate Waqf
Jakarta (ANTARA) – Coordinating Minister for Legal Affairs, Human Rights, Immigration and Corrections Yusril Ihza Mahendra said the use of Blang Padang land should be restored to its status as a waqf belonging to the Aceh Sultanate, rather than treated as a state asset or the asset of a particular ministry.
At a meeting with the Aceh House of Representatives (DPRA) in Jakarta on Thursday (15 October), he said the Coordinating Ministry for Legal Affairs, Human Rights, Immigration and Corrections had reached this understanding after consulting the President and relevant ministries.
“The legal status must be resolved through a proper mechanism, taking into account the administrative requirements for managing state-owned goods as well as waqf regulations,” Yusril said, according to confirmation in Jakarta on Friday.
Yusril explained that resolving the dispute over Blang Padang land involved not only state administration but also Islamic law, particularly the rules governing waqf.
He said a comprehensive legal approach was therefore needed to ensure the matter was settled in a way that respected the principles of Islamic law while complying with national legislation.
He added that the government wanted to provide legal certainty over the waqf land so that any resolution would be acceptable to all parties.
As a follow-up, the government is encouraging the legal status of the waqf land to be determined by an Islamic Religious Court in Aceh, including the appointment of a lawful nazhir, or waqf manager.
He said this step was important to provide legal certainty regarding the status and management of Blang Padang land.
The Coordinating Ministry for Legal Affairs, Human Rights, Immigration and Corrections also plans to hold a coordination meeting involving the Coordinating Ministry for Political and Security Affairs, the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Ministry of Finance and other relevant agencies.
“The meeting will focus on aligning legal and administrative matters to complete the process of removing the land’s state-owned asset registration, in accordance with the applicable regulations,” he said.
Alongside the Blang Padang land dispute, DPRA Speaker Zulfadhli raised two other strategic issues facing Aceh: the Aceh flag and special autonomy (otsus) funding.
Zulfadhli expressed hope that all three issues could be resolved and that amendments to Law No. 11 of 2006 on the Governance of Aceh (UUPA) could soon be enacted to strengthen the implementation of Aceh’s special autonomy.
On the Aceh flag issue, Yusril said it was a critical matter that needed to be resolved with reference to the provisions of the UUPA.
The government, he added, would hold further discussions through coordination among ministries and agencies before presenting the outcome to the President.
Yusril also reaffirmed the government’s commitment to resolving issues related to the implementation of special autonomy funding in Aceh through dialogue, deliberation and legal certainty.
“We must find a fair way forward for all of these issues, one that respects the interests of the people of Aceh and remains grounded in the Constitution and national law,” he said.
The coordinating minister said discussions on the three strategic issues could help strengthen relations between the central government and the Aceh provincial government, while supporting amendments to the UUPA that would provide legal certainty for the exercise of Aceh’s special powers.
He also expressed hope that these long-standing matters could be resolved through constructive communication and coordination.
The government, he stressed, wants amendments to the Aceh Governance Law to serve as an opportunity to strengthen special autonomy, preserve peace and improve the welfare of the people of Aceh.