Tuesday, 27 October 2026
DELI SERDANG | INDATANEWS.COM - Five institutions in Deli Serdang Regency, North Sumatra, Indonesia, are strengthening efforts to provide legal protection for land donated by members of the public as waqf, or charitable endowments. A key milestone in this joint initiative was the handover of eight land certificates to waqf administrators, known as nazir, on Monday, 26 October 2026, at the Deli Serdang District Prosecutor's Office hall.
The handover marks an important step towards securing legal certainty for land donated by the public for religious and educational purposes. With valid land certificates, waqf administrators have a stronger legal basis for protecting and managing these assets and ensuring they are used for their intended purposes.
Deli Serdang Regent Asri Ludin Tambunan presented the certificates alongside Deli Serdang District Prosecutor Sapta Putra, local Land Office head Mahyu Danil, head of the Office of the Ministry of Religious Affairs Saripuddin Daulay, and chairman of the Deli Serdang Waqf Board Syawaluddin Nasution.
The five representatives handed the certificates to representatives of the relevant local Offices of Religious Affairs (Kantor Urusan Agama, or KUA) in the sub-districts concerned. The initiative forms part of broader efforts to accelerate the legal registration of waqf land throughout Deli Serdang Regency.
Deli Serdang Regent Asri Ludin Tambunan emphasised that certifying waqf land plays a crucial role in providing legal certainty for those entrusted with managing assets donated by the public. Securing the land's legal status is also an important measure to prevent future disputes over ownership.
"We hope that, through this acceleration, more places of worship will have legal protection in the future and will no longer become the subject of disputes," Asri said.
He praised the cooperation between the regency administration, the prosecutor's office, the Land Office, the Ministry of Religious Affairs and the Waqf Board, all of which are working together to accelerate the certification process.
According to Asri, inter-agency cooperation must continue consistently to ensure that more waqf properties receive legal protection. This is also important for maintaining public confidence in the management of assets donated for community and religious purposes.
The certification of waqf land involves more than ensuring that land registration documents are complete. It also helps safeguard the long-term social and religious functions of these properties. Legal certainty enables administrators to use the land in accordance with the donor's intentions while reducing the risk of disputes that could interfere with its intended use.
Deli Serdang District Prosecutor Sapta Putra said his office was ready to support the certification of waqf land, particularly in cases where administrators encountered legal obstacles while registering their assets.
The prosecutor's office can provide legal advice and opinions within the scope of its authority. Where necessary, its assistance may also include measures to protect and recover assets. This support is intended to help the parties involved resolve problems that could delay the legal registration of waqf properties.
"The prosecutor's office is ready to work with the relevant institutions to accelerate the certification of waqf land. This will provide legal certainty for community assets and protect them against potential disputes," Sapta Putra said.
His statement highlights the importance of law enforcement agencies in protecting assets held for public benefit. Through effective coordination, both administrative problems and legal obstacles can be addressed in accordance with applicable regulations.
Cooperation between the prosecutor's office and the relevant institutions is also part of wider efforts to ensure that waqf assets continue to be managed in accordance with the original donors' intentions. This will allow the land to benefit the public in the long term without legal uncertainty disrupting its use.
The eight certificates cover waqf land at several locations across Deli Serdang Regency. These include plots in Purwodadi Village in Sunggal Sub-district, Pasar Miring and Perbarakan villages in Pagar Merbau Sub-district, and Juhar Baru Village in Galang Sub-district.
Other certificates cover waqf properties in Bintang Merah Village in Batang Kuis Sub-district, Dalu 10B Village in Tanjung Morawa Sub-district, and the Ramunia area in Beringin Sub-district.
The land was donated by members of the public for religious activities and educational purposes. Its intended uses include mosques, smaller prayer facilities, Quran memorisation centres known as rumah tahfiz, and educational institutions.
The certificates establish a clearer legal basis for nazir to manage the properties in accordance with the donors' wishes and the responsibilities entrusted to them. Legal protection also helps ensure that the land can continue to serve its intended purpose over the long term, benefiting both the current population and future generations.
The accelerated certification initiative is expected to make a lasting contribution to protecting waqf assets in Deli Serdang. Through cooperation between the regency administration, land authorities, the Ministry of Religious Affairs, the prosecutor's office and the Waqf Board, more donated properties are expected to gain legal certainty and protection against potential disputes. (IDNC)
REPORTER: Edi Saputra | EDITOR: Fik Sagala
