Indonesia's Land Minister Outlines Strategy to Eradicate Land Mafia

Integrity and Digitalization: Key to Combating Land Crimes

Nusron Wahid, Indonesia's Minister of Agrarian Affairs and Spatial Planning/Head of National Land Agency (ATR/BPN), has emphasized that the key to successfully combating land mafia lies not just in law enforcement, but in maintaining strong moral integrity among land administration officials. According to Nusron, the fundamental issue enabling land mafia operations is internal corruption within the BPN.

The Role of Internal Corruption

The minister explained that land mafia activities thrive when there is collusion between criminals and insiders. He stated, "As long as BPN officials refuse to be tempted to collude, the land mafia will certainly flee. They can only operate if there is an inside door opened to them. If we close this gap tightly, they will naturally disperse." This statement underscores the importance of ethical conduct among public officials in preventing land-related crimes.

Challenges in Land Administration Reform

Nusron acknowledged that criminal practices will always seek loopholes in various forms, regardless of time and place. His previous statement about land mafia being persistent "until doomsday is two days away" was not meant to be pessimistic but rather a philosophical acknowledgment that modern states constantly face the challenge between forces maintaining order and those trying to disrupt it.

Way Forward: Digitalization and Governance

The minister highlighted that while digitalization, improved governance, and regulatory strengthening are crucial steps in combating land mafia, these efforts will be futile if there remains a willingness to compromise among BPN officials. The administration is focusing on creating a robust system that minimizes opportunities for corruption and malpractice in land administration.