Home Affairs Minister urges Forkopimda to safeguard economic growth and regional stability
Home Affairs Minister Muhammad Tito Karnavian has asked the Regional Leadership Coordination Forum (Forkopimda) in the Sumatra region to strengthen synergy in maintaining regional stability while simultaneously encouraging economic growth.
According to him, the cohesiveness of Forkopimda elements is one of the keys to ensuring that various regional issues can be resolved quickly and effectively.
“Each Forkopimda element has its own power, and if this power is united, it will be solid and effective,” the minister said in a statement in Jakarta on Wednesday.
He made the remarks after providing direction at the Sumatra Regional Forkopimda Coordination Meeting at the Balairung of the Batam Business Agency (BP Batam), Riau Islands, on Wednesday (12/8/2026).
He noted that building Forkopimda cohesiveness is not always easy because each element has its own duties, authority and interests. Therefore, communication and coordination need to be built routinely, not only when problems arise.
Tito suggested that Forkopimda hold regular meetings, at least once or twice a month. Informal gatherings are also considered important for building closeness among leaders.
He acknowledged that each region has different local issues. For this reason, Forkopimda coordination needs to be directed towards identifying problems specifically and seeking joint solutions, rather than each element working in isolation.
In the context of economic development, the minister asked all regional heads in Sumatra, together with Forkopimda elements, to maintain the momentum of national economic growth.
He noted that Indonesia’s economic growth stands at 5.29 percent and said this achievement needs to be maintained and improved.
“Our economic growth is at 5.29 percent. That is a very good figure,” he said.
Nevertheless, the minister reminded that economic achievements between regions remain varied. In the Sumatra region, he cited the Riau Islands and Lampung as provinces with economic growth above the national figure.
“I ask colleagues in other regions and provinces to really coordinate to boost economic growth. And this must be supported by Forkopimda colleagues,” he explained.
On the other hand, the minister also highlighted the importance of maintaining price stability for goods and services.
According to him, inflation, especially in food commodities, can have a direct impact on people’s lives and has the potential to affect security and political stability if not handled properly.
“Because if there is an increase in the price of goods and services, especially food prices, the impact will directly affect the security situation,” he explained.
He asked Forkopimda to support inflation control efforts through concrete measures according to each region’s conditions. He added that this control cannot be left solely to regional heads but requires the support of all Forkopimda elements.
Also present were Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs Djamari Chaniago, Head of the Government Communication Agency Muhammad Qodari, governors and regents/mayors across Sumatra, Forkopimda members across Sumatra, and other relevant officials.