Home Affairs Minister Confirms Local Government Awards Assessed by Data: Numbers Cannot Be Manipulated

Home Affairs Minister Muhammad Tito Karnavian has confirmed that the assessment for the 2026 Outstanding Local Government Awards will be conducted objectively and transparently using official data from Statistics Indonesia (BPS) and the Regional Government Information System (SIPD).

Tito made the statement during the 2026 Regional Sulawesi Outstanding Local Government Awards ceremony at Hotel Claro in Kendari, Southeast Sulawesi, on Friday (29 May 2026).

He said the evaluation is quantitative, making manipulation impossible.

‘We are focusing on measurable factors such as unemployment, poverty, and inflation control. The data cannot be falsified,’ he stated.

‘I don’t even know who won today, honestly. If anyone didn’t receive an award, I apologise. The numbers don’t lie,’ he added.

According to Tito, the awards scheme is now regionalised to ensure fair competition for areas with smaller fiscal capacity.

‘After internal review within the Home Affairs Ministry, national-level competition would typically see only large cities or regencies win. Smaller regions would be at a disadvantage,’ he explained.

He cited regions with small regional budgets struggling to compete with areas with larger budgets like West Java, Central Java, or Jakarta.

Therefore, the ministry has divided evaluations into six regions across Indonesia.

Following Sumatra, Kalimantan, and Nusa Tenggara, Sulawesi is now hosting the awards.

‘That’s why we’ve regionalised the assessments,’ Tito said.

Beyond motivating local leaders, Tito stressed the awards’ importance in highlighting competent officials amid numerous corruption cases involving regional authorities.

He congratulated the award recipients and urged all local leaders to continue improving performance.