Deputy Minister Bima Arya Urges Regional DPRDs to Actively Oversee Bureaucratic Reforms

The role of Regional People’s Representative Councils (DPRDs) across Indonesia has once again come under the spotlight in efforts to drive bureaucratic transformation at the local level. These regional legislative bodies are seen as needing to be actively involved to ensure that governance reforms run effectively and have a real impact on society.

This was conveyed by Deputy Minister of Home Affairs Bima Arya Sugiarto during a presentation at the Advanced Leadership Course for Regional DPRD Chairmen from across Indonesia at the Military Academy on Thursday (16/4).

In his presentation, Bima highlighted ongoing challenges in local bureaucracies that are not yet fully adaptive to change. This situation has the potential to hinder the effectiveness of development programmes, even with changes in regional leadership.

“Elected and appointed leaders come and go, but the bureaucracy remains in place,” he stated.

In response to these challenges, the government is promoting the adoption of the statecraft concept as a new approach to government management. This concept demands that civil servants work more intelligently, skilfully, and reliably in facing increasingly complex challenges.

Furthermore, Bima emphasised that various priority programmes of President Prabowo Subianto need to be seriously monitored at the local level to truly deliver real impacts for society.

According to Bima, the success of these programmes heavily depends on synergy between local governments and DPRDs.

In his view, national priority programmes must not only be implemented but also ensured to stimulate the local economy, create jobs, and enhance public welfare if managed well.

On this occasion, Bima affirmed that DPRDs have a strategic role in ensuring that bureaucratic transformation and programme implementation run effectively. Through their budgetary, legislative, and oversight functions, DPRDs are expected to guide policies to hit their targets.

“DPRDs are a key institution. The lever is in your hands, Sirs and Madams,” he asserted.

Further, he specifically urged DPRDs to actively oversee the implementation of priority programmes at the local level, from governance to the benefits received by society.