Customary Land Ownership, Legal Pluralism, And Sustainable Land Governance In Southeast Asia

Authors

  • Safrin Salam Universitas Muhammadiyah Buton image/svg+xml
  • Muhammad Ramadan Kiro
  • La Gurusi
  • Rizki Mustika Suhartono
  • Sri Warjiyati

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.47701/ijlle.v7i1.6069

Keywords:

Customary Land; Customary Law Communities; Comparative Law; Southeast Asia; Legal Harmonization

Abstract

Ownership and management of customary lands in Southeast Asia, especially in Indonesia, still faces various legal, social, and economic problems due to the overlap between state law and customary law. This study aims to analyze the recognition of customary land rights and compare legal frameworks and implementation practices in several Southeast Asian countries to find an ideal model for equitable and sustainable customary land management. The research method used is normative legal research with a regulatory approach, a case approach, and a comparative approach. The source of legal material consists of primary, secondary, and tertiary legal materials that are analyzed qualitatively to produce prescriptive conclusions. The results of the study show that in Indonesia, although there has been legal recognition of customary land through the Constitutional Court Decision No. 35/PUU-X/2012, its implementation still faces administrative and political obstacles. Meanwhile, in other countries such as Malaysia and the Philippines, recognition of indigenous peoples' rights has been more institutionalized through affirmative policies and clearer juridical protections. These findings highlight the need for harmonization between customary and national laws as well as regional cooperation to strengthen the protection of indigenous peoples' rights to land

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Published

2026-04-30

How to Cite

Customary Land Ownership, Legal Pluralism, And Sustainable Land Governance In Southeast Asia. (2026). International Journal of Law and Legal Ethics (IJLLE), 7(1), 68-74. https://doi.org/10.47701/ijlle.v7i1.6069