Home Affairs Ministry Reminds Regional Heads to Uphold Integrity in Office
The Ministry of Home Affairs (Kemendagri) has affirmed that integrity is the primary foundation of bureaucratic leadership. Leaders with integrity are deemed unlikely to violate their oaths of office or deviate from legal regulations.
Head of the Human Resources Development Agency (BPSDM) of Kemendagri, Sugeng Hariyono, stated that integrity is reflected in the alignment between a leader’s words and actions, particularly in fulfilling the promises made in their oaths.
This was conveyed by Sugeng while speaking at the BPSDM Kemendagri Live Talk Show at the BPSDM Kemendagri Office in Jakarta on Thursday (16/4). The event, titled “Integrity in Leadership: Between the Temptations of Power and the Mandate of the People,” was broadcast live via the BPSDMTV Kemendagri YouTube channel.
“So simply, an integrity-filled leader does what they command. They do what they have committed to. That is integrity,” he said.
Sugeng noted that the involvement of regional heads in Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) sting operations (OTT) serves as a reminder for many parties. BPSDM Kemendagri continues to remind regional heads to steer clear of such practices.
This, for instance, is addressed in the Regional Heads Retreat forum, which features speakers from the KPK, Financial and Development Supervisory Agency (BPKP), Attorney General, National Police Chief, and the Corruption Crime Eradication Corps (Kortas Tipikor).
“This covers the material aspects sufficiently. It means the reminders are layered multiple times,” he explained.
In addition to the Regional Heads Retreat, BPSDM Kemendagri conducts other efforts, such as education and training programmes (diklat) where one of the modules covers integrity. These activities target Civil Servants (ASN) as well as members of the Regional People’s Representative Council (DPRD).
By understanding the importance of integrity, leaders are expected to implement such behaviour. “Because they understand, they apply it. Because they know the risks, they won’t commit (corruption),” he clarified.
Besides Sugeng, the event was attended by two other speakers: Inspector General (Irjen) of Kemendagri Sang Made Mahendra Jaya and Deputy for Education and Public Participation of the KPK, Wawan Wardiana.
In his explanation, Mahendra stated that a leader’s integrity is inseparable from honesty and consistency in carrying out the entrusted mandate.
This includes honesty regarding their leadership capabilities, as well as understanding various laws and regulations related to their duties and functions.
Therefore, he expressed regret over regional heads caught in corruption cases due to a lack of understanding of regulations. In his view, such excuses indicate that the regional head in question is irresponsible towards the mandate or authority entrusted to them.
“When becoming a regional head, if they don’t want to learn, what does that mean? They are not responsible to themselves; they should be honest. They should have said from afar, ‘Sir, I am not capable of being a regional head, don’t run in the election’,” he asserted firmly.
Meanwhile, Wawan expressed his concern over several regional heads recently caught in OTT operations. He stressed that eradicating corruption in Indonesia still requires serious attention.
Wawan emphasised that this eradication is not solely the responsibility of the KPK but also of all related parties, including the public.
“When the Corruption Perceptions Index (IPK) is announced, it shouldn’t just jolt the KPK; all ministries and agencies in Indonesia should be jolted because they should have the same concern,” he explained.