Interior Minister Stresses Loyalty, Integrity and Performance When Appointing Officials
Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia — Minister of Home Affairs Muhammad Tito Karnavian has appointed several senior officials (Eselon I), special advisers and an academic structural official within the Ministry of Home Affairs. In his address, the minister stressed the importance of loyalty, integrity, competence and a strong track record in carrying out duties and responsibilities.
“This is, in my view, a very important occasion, because it concerns senior leadership positions, Eselon I, of which there are not many at the Ministry of Home Affairs. Today, the posts are being handed over,” he said at the Sasana Bhakti Praja Building at the ministry’s central office in Jakarta on Tuesday (13 October 2026).
Tito said one of the strategic positions changing hands was the ministry’s Inspector General. He said the role had a distinct responsibility for guiding and overseeing the administration of regional government.
The Ministry of Home Affairs’ Inspectorate General differs from inspectorates at other ministries. Under Law No. 23 of 2014 on Regional Government, it coordinates guidance and oversight of regional government inspectorates at provincial and regency/municipal levels throughout Indonesia.
“We also have statutory authority to audit regional governments administratively—something other ministries and agencies cannot do—except in criminal matters,” he explained.
In light of these powers, Tito urged the Inspectorate General to strengthen coordination with various institutions, including the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), the police, the Ombudsman, the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM), and other commissions dealing with child protection and related areas. He also called for good working relations with the Financial and Development Supervisory Agency (BPKP) and the Audit Board of Indonesia (BPK), to follow up audit findings and strengthen internal oversight systems.
Tito also encouraged regular online meetings with regional inspectors to improve coordination between the ministry’s Inspectorate General and local inspectorates. “I have also entrusted the Inspectorate General with promoting internal systems and a healthy, well-functioning bureaucracy. Its task is demanding, particularly given the division of regions and the presence of special inspectors for audits,” he said.
Alongside oversight, Tito said appointments were based on officials’ track records, performance and contributions in their previous roles. One position receiving particular attention was Director General of Village Government Development, which has a strategic role in supporting village-development initiatives, including the Merah Putih Village/Sub-district Cooperatives and Merah Putih Fishing Villages.
For special adviser appointments, Tito also considered experience, track record and performance in previous roles. He said experienced officials who remained calm when facing various challenges were expected to support the leadership and help maintain organisational stability.
Tito said loyalty was a key consideration when appointing officials who work directly with leaders. He added that loyalty needed to go hand in hand with competence, the ability to get work done, and the capacity to maintain personal and organisational stability.
“I realise that loyalty really does come first; there are plenty of clever people. I always say that every leader wants to succeed, and cannot possibly operate alone—a one-man show is impossible. A leader becomes strong when they have a team and supporters,” he said.
The senior officials appointed were Inspector General Wahyu Bintono Hari Bawono; Director General of Village Government Development Bernhard Rondonuwu; Head of the Human Resources Development Agency Andi Ony Prihartono; Senior Adviser for Community Relations and Inter-Agency Relations La Ode Ahmad Pidana Bolombo; and Senior Adviser for Economic and Development Affairs Benni Irwan. Tito also appointed Sang Made Mahendra Jaya as the Minister of Home Affairs’ Special Adviser for Security and Law.
Yusharto Huntoyungo was appointed Vice-Rector for Legal Affairs, Cooperation and Personnel at the Institute of Domestic Governance (IPDN). Raden Gani Muhamad was appointed acting head of the Agency for Domestic Policy Strategy.