Jakarta, The government, through the Ministry of Agrarian Affairs and Spatial Planning/National Land Agency (ATR/BPN), has confirmed that the policy of transferring approximately 1.4 million hectares of abandoned land secured by the state is being implemented in accordance with legal provisions and based on the principle of public interest. The ministry has openly addressed the controversy surrounding the granting of land to community organizations.
The Head of the Public Relations and Protocol Bureau of the Ministry of ATR/BPN, Harison Mocodompis, explained that the decision regarding who is entitled to receive the land allocation is determined by the head of the GTRA (Agrarian Reform Task Force) task force at the regional level, which is led directly by the regional head.
“If we refer to his statement, it depends on the recipient subject determined by the regional GTRA chairman,” said Harison.
Harison emphasized that after the land is declared abandoned and taken back by the state, its allocation will be focused on agrarian reform programs targeting communities, farmers, and social institutions established through legal mechanisms.
“This land can be used for strategic state purposes, such as building schools and defense and security facilities, and is categorized as State General Reserve Land (TCUN),” he explained.
Previously, the Minister of Agrarian Affairs and Spatial Planning/Head of the National Land Agency (ATR/BPN), Nusron Wahid, stated that the abandoned land was reclaimed by the state because it was claimed to be unused by the certificate holders. This amount represents part of the 55.9 million hectares, or 79.5% of certified land in Indonesia.
“There are a total of 1.4 million hectares of abandoned land nationally,” said Nusron.
Meanwhile, the Head of the Presidential Communication Office (PCO), Hasan Nasbi, explained that land with HBG and HGU rights remaining abandoned for two years or more will be taken over by the state. This policy is stipulated in Government Regulation of the Republic of Indonesia Number 20 of 2021 concerning the Regulation of Abandoned Areas and Land. The regulation defines abandoned land as land that is intentionally not cultivated, used, utilized, and/or maintained.
“According to Government Regulation Number 20 of 2021, land with HGB or HGU status that is left abandoned for two years or more will be reclaimed by the state. Abandoned land is defined as land that is intentionally left undeveloped, unused, unutilized, and/or unmaintained,” he said.
The government urges the public not to fall prey to baseless speculation and to understand that this agrarian reform policy is part of a strategy to equalize access to agrarian resources. The ultimate goal is to promote social justice, improve welfare, and ensure national resilience through equitable and lawful land management.
