MAKI Urges Curbing Regional Heads' Powers Amid Surge in Graft Arrests
The Coordinator of the Indonesian Anti-Corruption Society (MAKI), Boyamin Saiman, has proposed curtailing the authority of regional heads as a solution to prevent corruption. He argued that regional heads should no longer act as ‘little kings’ with full control over strategic decisions.
Boyamin stated that managerial authority should be entirely handed over to professional bureaucrats, from regional secretaries and agency heads down to their subordinates. Meanwhile, the role of regional heads should be purely symbolic.
‘The solution is simple: they should not be little kings. The way to do this is to reduce their authority. Managerial authority should be fully controlled by pure bureaucrats, namely the regional secretary, agency heads, and their subordinates. Regional heads should only have a symbolic role, then they won’t misbehave,’ Boyamin told reporters on Thursday (23/7/2026).
Additionally, Boyamin highlighted the weak oversight function of Regional People’s Representative Councils (DPRD). He urged law enforcement officials to take firm action against council members proven to be trading the accountability reports of regional heads.
‘DPRD oversight must also be strengthened. If anyone is trading accountability reports, they must be legally processed,’ he said.
Boyamin further proposed that several strategic powers be stripped from regional heads, including the procurement of goods and services. He suggested that the tender process should be carried out by a separate independent body with a system that cannot be intervened by regional heads, thus preventing it from becoming a target for corrupt transactions.
He also requested that the authority for staff mutations and promotions be fully handed over to the National Civil Service Agency (BKN). This would prevent regional heads from unilaterally appointing or dismissing officials.
‘Staff mutations and promotions must be fully authorised by the BKN, so that regents cannot easily dismiss or promote officials,’ he stated.
Furthermore, Boyamin proposed strengthening the licensing system through an online mechanism managed by the bureaucracy and supervised by the central government. He argued that regional heads should not be directly involved in issuing various permits, including business and mining permits.
‘Licensing must use an online system built by the bureaucracy. Regional heads should no longer handle mining permits, business permits, or other licences to prevent abuse of authority,’ he concluded.