Home Affairs Ministry Applauds High-Performing Local Governments in Maluku and Nusra

Minister of Home Affairs (Mendagri) Muhammad Tito Karnavian said the award is a tangible form of the Ministry of Home Affairs’ guidance and oversight of regional governments in accordance with the mandate of the Regional Government Administration Law. ‘This year, we have allocated a budget of one trillion rupiah for regional fiscal incentives. The consideration is that the task of the Ministry of Home Affairs under the Regional Government Law is to provide guidance and oversee local governance,’ Tito said in a written statement on Wednesday, 20 May 2026.

The awards ceremony was held at the Merumatta Ballroom, Senggigi, Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara (NTB), on Tuesday 19 May. Tito further likened the award scheme to the carrot-and-stick concept in governance. Local governments would not only receive evaluation and oversight but also recognition that has a direct impact on the regional treasury.

He emphasised that the awards are intentionally regional in design to make the competition fairer. Regions with limited fiscal capacity would not be able to compete if they competed at the national level. ‘If it were national, the competition would not be fair,’ he said. ‘Their innovations are greater, because the money is there. Likewise, at the city level, if cities were pitted against each other—Surabaya, for example, large cities like Medan— they would dominate,’ he added.

Therefore, Tito continued, the regional awards are hoped to provide a fairer opportunity for regions to gain recognition as well as additional fiscal incentives that can be used in the Anggaran Pendapatan dan Belanja Daerah (APBD). ‘Now for the categories, we deliberately choose the lighter ones where the data is readily available—for example unemployment data, sourced from BPS,’ he explained.

The regional awards for Poverty Alleviation and Stunting Reduction at the regency level went to Morotai Islands Regency as Best I, North Halmahera Regency as Best II, and Central Halmahera Regency as Best III. For the city level, Ternate City was the Best I, while the province was North Maluku. The awards were presented symbolically by the Minister for Housing and Settlements (PKP) Maruarar Sirait.

In the Creative Financing category, West Lombok Regency took Best I at the regency level, followed by Lombok Timur and Halmahera Selatan. For the city level, Mataram City won, while the NTB provincial level was awarded to the Province of NTB. The awards were presented symbolically by Muhammad Rifqinizamy Karsayuda, the Chair of Commission II of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI).

Next, in the Inflation Control category, East Sumba Regency won Best I at the regency level, followed by Bima and Maluku Tenggara Regencies. For the city level, Tual City was awarded, while the provincial level went to East Nusa Tenggara Province (NTT). The award was presented directly by Mendagri Muhammad Tito Karnavian.

Finally, in the Unemployment Reduction category, at the regency level Lembata Regency was Best I, followed by Alor and Sikka Regencies. For the city level, Tidore Islands City was awarded, while the provincial award went to North Maluku Province. The award was symbolically presented by the Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs, Djamari Chaniago.

As a form of appreciation, the Ministry of Home Affairs provides fiscal incentives to the winners: Rp 3 billion for Best I, Rp 2 billion for Best II, and Rp 1 billion for Best III.

The event was also attended by NTB Governor Lalu Muhammad Iqbal, NTT Governor Emanuel Melkiades Laka Lena, Maluku Governor Hendrik Lewerissa, North Maluku Governor Sherly Tjoanda, and the Forkopimda leadership from across Maluku and Nusa Tenggara.