Deputy Interior Minister Bima Arya: Leaders Must Have Strong Ideology and Dare to Take Risks

Deputy Interior Minister (Wamendagri) Bima Arya Sugiarto stressed the importance of a leader possessing a strong ideology and values in running the government. According to him, steadfastness in the principles of inclusivity and advocacy for the community forms the primary foundation so that leaders are not easily influenced by pressures from certain groups, including when making high-risk decisions.

“So leaders are often faced with difficult choices; we can choose comfort or risk, but I take the risk when I am convinced of those advocacy values,” said Bima Arya during the book review event for “Babad Alas” at the Faculty of Social Sciences and Political Science (FISIP) of Diponegoro University (Undip) in Semarang, Central Java, on Tuesday, 12 May 2026.

Based on his experience leading Bogor City for a decade, he assessed that steadfastness in holding onto ideology is key to resolving complex issues in bureaucracy and society. He exemplified his courage in restricting alcohol sales permits in night entertainment venues to protect the younger generation, despite facing pressure from certain parties. Additionally, the same inclusivity principle was cited as successfully forming the basis for resolving conflicts over the establishment of places of worship that had persisted for years.

Furthermore, Bima explained that ideology alone is not enough without strategies to build public hope and form a solid bureaucratic team. In human resource management, he places character, loyalty, and militancy as primary considerations in selecting officials before technical competence.

“So when selecting department heads, for me, character competence comes first. Etiquette comes first. Next is competence and so on,” he clarified.

To maintain consistency in those values, he implements a moral strengthening system through direct involvement with the community, dialogue with activists, and positioning the family as the last bastion in upholding integrity. He exemplified how critical values instilled in the family environment serve as important reminders to reject all forms of deviation, including gratuities.

Bima also advised students to prepare themselves from an early stage to become future leaders. He reminded them that leadership tenure passes very quickly, so every opportunity must be maximised with full dedication and a spirit of service.