Ministry of Home Affairs Launches Competition Among Local Governments Through High-Performance Regional Awards

The Minister of Home Affairs (Mendagri), Muhammad Tito Karnavian, explained that the awards are not only given in the form of trophies, but also fiscal incentives from the Mendagri budget. At the district level, Best I receives Rp 3 billion, Best II Rp 2 billion, and Best III Rp 1 billion. Meanwhile, at the provincial and city levels, the award is given only to Best I with an incentive of Rp 3 billion. He added that the award scheme is divided regionally to ensure the competition is fairer and more evenly distributed. The regions include Sumatra, Kalimantan, Sulawesi, Maluku-Nusa Tenggara, Java-Bali, and Papua. ‘The aim is firstly to foster a climate of competition. Secondly, to automatically reward those who perform well. Thirdly, to incentivise those who have not yet performed well – meaning those who are less fortunate – to work harder,’ he said in a written statement on Wednesday, 20 May 2026. This was stated by Tito at the 2026 Regional Appreciation for High-Performing Local Governments, Regional Maluku and Nusa Tenggara, at the Merumatta Senggigi Ballroom, Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) on Tuesday, 19 May. He added that the assessment uses available and verified data, including from the Badan Pusat Statistik (BPS) and Mendagri data. The categories contested include poverty alleviation and reduction of stunting, creative financing, unemployment reduction, and inflation control. ‘There are four categories in competition and the data is clear from the BPS data, including data from Mendagri,’ he said. In addition to promoting healthy competition, Tito emphasised that the activity also aims to show the public that many regional heads perform well and deserve recognition. ‘Actually, we also want to convey through this event that a considerable number of regional heads are good and performing, and deserve to be valued,’ he added. Furthermore, Tito explained that the awards programme and fiscal incentives have been consulted with and overseen from the outset by the DPR RI’s Commission II, including in the budgeting process. Mendagri has prepared a fiscal incentive budget of Rp1 trillion to be disbursed gradually in several waves of awards based on the predetermined regional divisions. The event was also attended by the Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs (Menko Polkam) Djamari Chaniago, the Minister for Housing and Settlement (PKP) Maruarar Sirait, the Chairman of Commission II of the DPR RI Muhammad Rifqinizamy Karsayuda, governors of Maluku and Nusa Tenggara, and members of the Regional Leadership Coordination Forum (Forkopimda).