Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Ministry of Religious Affairs and the Indonesian Waqf Board (BWI) are preparing a national regulatory framework to strengthen waqf (Islamic endowment) management, making it more adaptive and responsive to local needs.
Dendy Zuhairil Finsa, Head of BWI’s Legal and Asset Handling Division, stressed the need for a unified regulation to provide a consistent legal foundation for waqf land certification and management.
“We need a national regulatory framework that bridges and aligns regulations at both central and regional levels,” he said in a statement issued on Saturday.
According to Finsa, differing interpretations of regulations among agencies have hindered the certification process—complicating matters for communities and limiting waqf’s potential as a tool for community development.
He noted that the proposed framework will consolidate various laws, government regulations, and technical policies across ministries and institutions.
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Finsa also underscored the importance of strengthening the capacity of nazir (waqf managers) and raising public awareness about the critical need for land certification.
He warned that uncertified waqf land is vulnerable to unauthorized repurposing, potentially violating Islamic principles.
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Finsa praised the Ministry of Religious Affairs for its support in drafting technical regulations and fostering dialogue among ministries and agencies.
In the same statement, Jaja Jarkasih, Head of the Ministry’s Sub-Directorate for Waqf Assets Supervision and Security, said the ministry aims to clarify jurisdiction and procedures, especially for waqf land affected by national strategic projects.
Jarkasih added that beyond regulatory efforts, a community-based approach is essential to ensure waqf certification is accepted legally, culturally, and spiritually.
