Ministry of Home Affairs Emphasizes Strengthening Governance of the Wali Nanggroe Institution and Reforming ZISWAF|
The 2025 Aceh Special Region Development Planning Conference (Musrenbang-KA), held in Batam from November 23 to 25, 2025, presented a strategic agenda related to the institutional governance of Aceh's special region.
The event featured a keynote presentation from the Director of Regional Budget Planning, Directorate General of Regional Financial Development, Ministry of Home Affairs.
Zulfikar Idris, Head of Public Relations and Cooperation for the Wali Nanggroe Institution, stated that the forum was officially opened by the Wali Nanggroe Aceh, His Excellency Tgk. Malik Mahmud Al-Haythar, and closed by the Khatibul Wali, Abdullah Hasbullah.
In his presentation, Rikie emphasized that strengthening Aceh's Special Region—including strengthening the status, authority, and funding of the Wali Nanggroe Institution—has a strong legal basis, both at the national and regional levels. The Aceh government, he said, has proposed updating the classification, codification, and nomenclature of regional planning and budgeting to ensure appropriate budget support for the institution's functions.
"We have comprehensively processed the Aceh Government's proposal, and most of it has been accommodated through the 2023 Minister of Home Affairs Decree," Rikie said.
He also emphasized that several national policy changes have important implications for the regional budget structure, including limiting personnel spending to a maximum of 30 percent, to improve the accountability and effectiveness of regional financial management.
"These adjustments are not only to align with national policy, but also to ensure that the governance of Aceh's Special Region is transparent, accountable, and sustainable," he added.
Issues of Zakat, Infak, Sedekah, Waqf (ZISWAF) and the management of other religious assets were also a focus of the discussion. The government believes it is necessary to strengthen regulations and refine the nomenclature to ensure that ZISWAF governance in Aceh is more orderly, transparent, and in accordance with sharia principles.
In addition to the Aceh Government, the Sabang City Government has also proposed updating the nomenclature so that the financial rights of Aceh's special institutions—such as the Aceh Traditional Council—are officially included in the regional budgeting system. All these proposals have been finalized through a memorandum of understanding between the regional government and the Ministry of Home Affairs.
"Aceh's special status must not only be respected, but also supported by a budget system that is appropriate, structured, and in accordance with the law. The Ministry of Home Affairs is ready to continue close collaboration with the Wali Nanggroe Institution and the Aceh Government to ensure this," concluded Rikie.[]
Source: Wali Nanggroe Public Relations.