Jakarta (ANTARA) - Agrarian Affairs and Spatial Planning Minister Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono (AHY) on Tuesday said that land certificates hold economic value and provide legal certainty to holders.
"People can feel (legally) assured by owning a land certificate. Such a certificate also holds economic value since it can be used as collateral for obtaining business capital," he explained during the handover of 15 land certificates to residents in Bogor district, West Java.
AHY urged people to protect and make use of their certificates in a responsible manner.
The minister also encouraged more people to not hesitate to register their lands, noting that obtaining a land certificate involves a simple process.
"Our agrarian affairs offices will always welcome all people. I can assure you that we will not make the land certification process complicated, as we are aiming for a swift procedure," he told residents.
He also spoke about having a direct conversation with certificate recipients, saying that some of them had been inhabiting homes passed down by their parents and grandparents without getting a land certificate.
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"Thank God, they now own a certificate officially issued by the state. This way, they have legal certainty over their land parcels and the houses built on them," he said.
The minister then underlined that the possession of a land certificate can free people from the fear of their land plots being occupied by irresponsible parties, as the certificate is backed by law.
"We are very delighted to have the opportunity to directly greet people while handing over the long-awaited land certificates. My visit today is aimed at having a first-hand review of people's conditions and heeding their aspirations," he added.