Analyst: BKN Could Issue Confirmation Letter Over Controversy Surrounding Tangsel's Regional Secretary Status

The controversy over the legitimacy of the Secretary to the Regional Government (Sekda) of South Tangerang City (Tangsel), Bambang Noertjahjo, has become a hot potato. As of mid-May 2026, an official confirmation letter from the central National Civil Service Agency (BKN) has reportedly not yet been issued following the five-year tenure evaluation in April. Public policy analyst Yanuar Winarko warned that the Sekda is the driving force of the bureaucracy and the key custodian of local finances, making its legal status crucial. “If this condition is left unresolved without clarity, it could potentially trigger political upheaval at the local level. Moreover, public unease could spread due to doubts about the formal legality of policies and budgets issued by the Tangsel City Government,” Yanuar said on Tuesday (19/5/2026). Legally, Bambang Noertjahjo was sworn in on 19 April 2021, and a periodic evaluation was carried out on 19 April 2026. Under the State Civil Apparatus Law, a Senior Leadership Position (JPT) such as the Sekda can be extended, and the BKN is obliged to issue a new appointment confirmation letter based on the internal evaluation submitted by the regional authorities. Yanuar explained that legally, the absence of the letter from BKN does not automatically terminate the Sekda post. In administrative law practice, the only automatic ends to a post are retirement, transfer, death, or removal sanctions. The five-year rule in the Civil Servants Management Regulation refers to the time limit for evaluation, not contract termination. “That means if the evaluation is not yet completed or the letter is still in processing, the Sekda remains in office legally until another decision is issued by the Officer in Charge of Civil Servants (the regional head) and the relevant administrative processes are completed,” Yanuar said. Although operationally legitimate, Yanuar issued a strong call for the central BKN to promptly complete the process so that this administrative loophole is not turned into a political issue by certain parties. “I urge BKN to issue the appointment letter immediately without further delay. Central bureaucratic affairs must not imperil local governance,” he stressed. In response to these concerns, the Tangsel City Government assured there is no tolerance or delay on the part of the local government. The Head of Tangsel’s Department of Communications and Informatics (Kominfo), TB Asep Nurdin, stated that all performance evaluation documents for the Sekda had been submitted to BKN before the April deadline. “All files and evaluation documents were sent to BKN well before 19 April 2026,” Asep explained. Currently, the Tangsel City Government is in a passive position, awaiting administrative confirmation from the centre. Asep guaranteed that coordination of regional budgeting, public service, and daily governance continues normally without legal obstacles under the current Sekda leadership. The public should understand that, regulationally, the Sekda post falls under the category of Jabatan Pimpinan Tinggi (JPT).