The East Java Regional Office of the National Land Agency (Kanwil BPN) and the East Java Indonesian Mosque Council (DMI) signed a memorandum of understanding to accelerate the certification of mosque waqf land to strengthen legal certainty and improve the protection of religious assets in the province.
"This is our joint effort to safeguard and protect waqf land. With the certificate, the mosque will have a strong legal basis, allowing it to focus on its primary function, both as a place of worship and a center for socio-economic activities," said Asep Heri, Head of the East Java National Land Agency (BPN) Regional Office, during the signing of the MoU at the Islamic Center in Surabaya on Friday.
Asep Heri emphasized that the East Java National Land Agency (BPN) has prepared an acceleration mechanism to ensure a more systematic certification process, from data collection and verification to certificate issuance.
The man, who is also the Head of the Department of Zakat, Infaq, Shodaqoh, and Waqf Empowerment (ZISWAF), said that collaboration with the East Java DMI was an important factor in accelerating data collection and completing waqf documents.
The signing of this cooperation agreement is a strategic step in promoting a more organized and secure religious ecosystem, particularly regarding waqf assets, which often face legal issues.
Through the MoU, the East Java National Land Agency (BPN) and the East Java DMI hope that the certification process for thousands of mosque waqf lands across all regencies/cities can be accelerated so that their construction, development, and utilization can run more optimally and sustainably.
Meanwhile, East Java Governor Khofifah Indar Parawansa said that currently, mosques in East Java are not only centers of worship, but have also been transformed into tourist destinations.
" The greenhouse in the mosque area is an outstanding example of an educational tourism destination. With rapid certification, this development effort will be even more flexible," he said.
