Interior Minister Warns Uncontrolled Urbanisation Triggers Criminal Issues

Interior Minister (Mendagri) Muhammad Tito Karnavian has reminded of the importance of planned and sustainable urban management amid the increasing flow of urbanisation. This was conveyed by the Interior Minister when serving as the keynote speaker at the Working Meeting of the Regional Commissariat (Komwil) I of the All-Indonesia City Government Association (APEKSI) in Banda Aceh City, Aceh, on Monday (20/4). In his direction, the Interior Minister emphasised that cities are currently the national economic centres as well as the most vulnerable points to various social issues. “If not managed well, they will become victims. Education is insufficient, unable to compete, eventually leading to crime,” Tito stressed. Uncontrolled urbanisation He explained that the phenomenon of uncontrolled urbanisation will trigger various problems such as slum areas, increasing criminality, to high cost of living pressures in cities. Indirectly, the Interior Minister described that the role of cities in Indonesia is very strategic because they become centres of economic activity and home to the majority of the population. He even mentioned the experience of advanced countries like Japan which experienced serious impacts due to extreme urbanisation. According to him, if urban development is not well designed, the long-term effects can be very burdensome, from the high cost of living to the decline in the quality of life of the community. He also highlighted the importance of disciplined urban spatial planning.