Forestry Minister commits to competency-based HR development and meritocracy

Forestry Minister Raja Juli Antoni has affirmed his commitment to improving the competence of national human resources (HR) in the forestry sector. “(We) are striving to build an objective talent pool, based on merit, based on a person’s capacity and performance, not on their ethnic, religious, or regional background,” said Raja Antoni in a statement in Jakarta on Wednesday. He stated that this effort aligns with his move to establish a merit system within the Ministry of Forestry as the foundation for bureaucratic reform. According to him, the promotion and career development of civil servants must be based on capacity, competence, and performance, not on personal connections or specific backgrounds. “I am continuously making every effort to build a merit system, a meritocracy, in this ministry,” he said. “This system is not yet perfect. But I hope this will be my legacy together with the Vice Minister, where I want colleagues and juniors who perform well to be recognised digitally through a platform accessible to all, without needing to know the minister or vice minister personally,” he added. Minister Raja Antoni noted that bureaucratic reform is not only about changing organisational structures but also about transforming work culture. He acknowledged that the process is not always easy and may cause some turbulence. “You are the most important part of this process of change. Let us continue working to improve the ministry, preserve the forests, ensure development continues, and improve community welfare,” he said. Furthermore, he urged all civil servants to continuously improve their quality through both formal and non-formal learning. He stated that the Ministry of Forestry will continue to strengthen human resource development, including opening up educational opportunities and scholarships to prepare the next generation of forestry leaders. “Never stop learning. Learning is not only through formal education, but also from leaders, colleagues, and subordinates. As a minister, I myself never stop learning so that every decision taken is truly based on a complete understanding,” he said.