The National Awakening Party (PKB) and civil rights activists have questioned the legislation of land acquisition bill, which will allow the government to take citizens’ land in the name of public interest.

Speaking at a seminar on land acquisition here on Tuesday, the PKB faction chairman at the House of Representatives, Marwan Ja’far, the Land Reform Consortium (KPA) secretary-general, Idham Arsyad, and Commission IV on agriculture, plantation and forestry deputy chairman Firman Subagyo said the bill would permit the government to acquire land for the private entities, which may include proposals from certain business groups in the property sector.

“The bill gives authorities the chance to remove inhabitants from their own land in the name of public interest, including the development of public infrastructure,” said Marwan.