This regulation was issued to provide certainty, clarity, and a legal basis in administering national government authority in Aceh, as well as to implement art 270(1) of Law No. 11 of 2006 on the Administration of Aceh. It grants the national government to legislate with regards to Acehnese government matters that cover:
In the elucidation, 'certain religious affairs' ('urusan tertentu dalam bidang agama') is defined as covering, among other things, stipulating national religious holidays, providing recognition of religions, stipulating policies in the administration of religious life, and the like.