Jakarta – Muhammadiyah lent support on Monday to mounting calls for the government to revoke the new presidential regulation that allows authorities to acquire private land without a deal being reached with its owner.

"Presidential Regulation No. 5/2005 should be revoked," Muhammadiyah leader Din Syamsuddin was quoted as saying in a press statement.

The statement was released by the People's Coalition to Reject Eviction including the Urban Poor Consortium (UPC) and the Network for Jakarta City Poor People, after their members were received by Din at the Muhammadiyah headquarters in Central Jakarta.

"Muhammadiyah, which is committed to defending the people's rights, gives full support to efforts to annul the regulation. The government should not be allowed to make the people suffer," Din said.

Many non-governmental organizations and individuals have expressed concern over the land decree.