Home Affairs Minister: Competitive Climate Boosts Regional Heads' Performance

Home Affairs Minister Muhammad Tito Karnavian has stressed the importance of building a competitive climate among regional heads to drive improvements in local government performance. Tito explained that Indonesia’s regional autonomy system grants significant authority to local governments (Pemda), making their performance a crucial factor directly contributing to national outcomes. “The challenge lies there, because if even one region’s performance falters, it can affect national performance,” Tito stated during his remarks in Jakarta on Sunday. This issue requires attention given the diverse backgrounds of regional heads. The Home Affairs Ministry, as the overseer of local government operations, continues to strengthen regional heads’ performance, including through the provision of awards. “Various mentoring efforts are conducted through formal and informal activities. However, one of the most effective is building a competitive climate among regional heads,” he said. The Minister also appreciated the organisation of the National Governance Awards 2026 by a private television station. According to him, the involvement of external parties, particularly mainstream media, adds significant value to the evaluation and publication process. “And to fellow regional heads who were not fortunate enough to receive awards, we hope they will be motivated to achieve the same recognition,” he added.