Deputy Interior Minister: Adaptive leadership is crucial to address the effects of global dynamics
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Deputy Interior Minister Bima Arya Sugiarto has praised various innovations undertaken by local governments in addressing development challenges, while stressing the importance of adaptive, skilled leadership capable of reading global, national, and local dynamics.
Bima reminded regional heads that they now face far more complex dynamics than in previous periods, ranging from global geopolitical impacts to evolving national policies, as well as demands to meet local community needs.
“As someone who has experienced difficult times leading a region, I deeply understand the inner turmoil of how challenging it is to be a regional head, regent, mayor, or governor. There are three simultaneous challenges currently faced by fellow regional heads that may differ somewhat from the first generation of directly elected regional heads,” Bima said in his statement in Jakarta on Tuesday.
He explained that these challenges encompass global aspects directly affecting local inflation and economic stability, changes in national policies requiring rapid adaptation, and the obligation of regional heads to fulfil political promises and public services.
Bima Arya emphasised the importance of applying the concept of statecraft in government governance.
According to him, regional heads are not only required to be intelligent but also skilled and trustworthy.
“Intelligence alone is not enough, as the President says, if not skilled. Skilled means technically quick, but skilled does not necessarily mean reliable. Reliable means trusted or trustworthy. As the President says, one must be reliable, trustworthy, secondly skilled and quick, and thirdly intelligent,” he stated.
In the context of increasing regional own-source revenue (PAD), Bima Arya cited various innovative practices already implemented by several regions, such as optimising billboard management, improving parking systems, and public-private partnership schemes that provide added value to regional income.
In addition, he also stressed the importance of cross-sectoral synergy that does not always have to go through formal institutional approaches but can directly target strategic issues with real impacts on society.
“And the goal from this forum is, of course, to derive agendas that will be implemented in more concrete actions because we want this synergy not only oriented towards formal institutions but also directly on sectoral issues,” Bima said.
Meanwhile, South Kalimantan Governor Muhidin outlined several innovations carried out in his region to reduce poverty and improve community welfare.
One of them is through the SITI HAWA LARI programme (Integrated Duck Livestock System in Swamp and Dry Land).
“Here, we ask the regents and mayors to primarily prepare and provide assistance to the community for raising these ducks. It turns out to be quite good for increasing the income of the people in South Kalimantan,” he explained.
On the same occasion, Sukamara Regent H. Masduki explained various concrete steps in controlling inflation in his area, including market inspections, the Cheap Food Movement in collaboration with Bulog, LPG Market Operations, fuel subsidies for fishermen, and direct cash assistance (BLT).
“Our inflation control efforts are also strengthened through the Quick Harvest Planting Movement, Farmer and Fisherman Assistance, up to BLT distribution and subsidised cheap markets,” Masduki stated.
Meanwhile, Bontang Mayor Neni Moerniaeni highlighted efforts to reduce unemployment rates through improving human resource quality.
Several programmes implemented by the Bontang City Government include enhancing skills training, implementing apprenticeship programmes and workforce certification, providing job opportunity facilities, and forming communication forums between training institutions and industries in Bontang City.
“We have a regional regulation that stipulates employers must employ at least 75 percent native Bontang workers; this is one of the drivers (of unemployment reduction) in Bontang City,” Neni said.