Deputy Home Affairs Minister Ribka Urges Papua to Embrace Prabowo's Priority Programs to Accelerate Development

Jayapura, VIVA – Deputy Home Affairs Minister Ribka Haluk has urged all stakeholders in Papua to actively utilise the government’s priority programs as an opportunity to accelerate development and improve community welfare.

According to Ribka, several strategic programs launched by the government, including President Prabowo Subianto’s quick-win initiatives, need to be proactively embraced so their impact can be felt widely among grassroots communities.

‘The President’s quick-win programs to deliver results must be seized,’ she said during a panel session at the Third Papua Strategic Analysis Conference at the Papua Youth Creative Hub in Jayapura, Papua, on Saturday, 30 May 2026.

Ribka cited the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) program, which not only focuses on meeting community nutritional needs but also stimulates local economic sectors.

She said the program creates significant opportunities for local businesses, from farmers and fishermen to MSMEs, to participate in the MBG supply chain.

‘The program is not just about providing food, but also how agriculture can supply the MBG kitchens, fisheries can also get involved. Basically, there’s a huge ripple effect,’ she said.

On another front, Ribka highlighted several challenges still faced by Papua, including poverty and extreme poverty rates, which according to Statistics Indonesia (BPS) data remain above the national average.

She said this requires collective effort from the central government, regional authorities, and all societal elements to resolve.

‘It’s a shared task that we must work on together,’ she added.

Furthermore, Ribka stressed the importance of strengthening the implementation of Papua’s Special Autonomy (Otsus) to truly provide protection, empowerment, and welfare for Indigenous Papuans (OAP).

She said the central government continues to push for evaluation and improvement of Otsus governance, including regulations and policies favouring Papua’s communities.

Therefore, Ribka called on all Papua stakeholders, including regional governments, the Papua People’s Assembly (MRP), Papua’s DPR, traditional leaders, religious figures, and community groups, to strengthen synergy in overseeing regional development.