Social Minister Praises Corrections Minister on Prison Reform Strategy: Results Already Felt
Social Minister (Mensos) Saifullah Yusuf, or Gus Ipul, has expressed appreciation for the performance of Minister of Immigration and Corrections (Imipas) Agus Andrianto regarding the improvement of correctional institutions (lapas). He stated that Minister Agus’s strategy has had a positive impact on the correctional environment.
“Minister’s strategy to address various issues in the correctional environment has begun to show results,” said Gus Ipul at the Thanksgiving Event for the 62nd Corrections Day with the theme ‘Corrections: Real Work for Prime Service’ at the Auditorium of the Immigration and Corrections Polytechnic Campus, Tangerang, Banten, on Monday (27/4/2026).
The issues that Gus Ipul noted as showing improvement include overcrowding in prisons and handling violations, both by rogue officers and inmates in detention centres and prisons.
“How to address the overcrowding problem, then the violations, all of that we see as part of the Minister’s strategy,” he said.
At this event, the Ministry of Social Affairs and the Ministry of Corrections signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on strengthening the provision of healthcare services for correctional inmates. The context involves the provision of National Health Insurance, social protection, and decentralisation. It is hoped that public services will become more integrated, expansive, sustainable, and impactful on improving societal welfare.
“This is the new face of our corrections, not just confining but building, not just suppressing but empowering,” said Minister Agus.
“This noble step can only be realised through hard work, commitment from all corrections personnel, and of course cross-sectoral collaboration,” he added.
Returning to Gus Ipul, he mentioned that the rehabilitation of inmates prioritising empowerment and the seriousness of internal discipline by the Ministry of Corrections is concrete evidence of the government’s efforts in building the correctional system. According to him, conditions in the correctional environment are becoming more orderly, professional, and humane because there is recognition for inmates who serve their sentences well. There is also recognition for employees who perform their duties well.
“It was very evident in the report presented earlier, and of course I appreciate it. I give my respect for the continuously improving work, which is quite good, and the results are starting to be felt,” said Gus Ipul.
The 62nd Corrections Day commemoration serves as a momentum to strengthen synergy between institutions so that services to the community, including inmates, become better, more professional, and on target.
The event was also attended by several high-ranking state officials and institutional leaders, including representatives from the Supreme Court of the Republic of Indonesia, leaders of Commission XIII of the House of Representatives, ministers from the Red and White Cabinet, state institution leaders, law enforcement officials, TNI-Polri elements, regional heads, as well as leaders of state-owned enterprises and other strategic institutions.