Three Decades of Regional Autonomy, Bima Arya Emphasises Integrity and Justice

Deputy Minister of Home Affairs Bima Arya Sugiarto has emphasised that improving the integrity and capacity of local government apparatus is the primary key to perfecting the implementation of regional autonomy, which has been running for three decades.

At the XXX Regional Autonomy Day commemoration at the Ministry of Home Affairs headquarters in Jakarta on Monday, Bima stated that regional autonomy is closely tied to the concept of authority. However, he reminded that such authority must be balanced with capability and integrity.

“Authority without capability is mere wishful thinking. Authority without integrity only breeds arbitrariness and sting operations,” he said.

According to Bima, authority is the “soul” of regional autonomy that distinguishes the current governance system from previous eras. Nevertheless, he emphasised that regional autonomy is not a static system but an ongoing process that requires continuous evaluation.

He added that over the 30 years of its implementation, regional autonomy must continue to be refined through improvements in governance, strengthening of capacity, and adjustments to development dynamics.

In addition, Bima stressed the importance of the principle of justice in the implementation of decentralisation. Without justice, he said, decentralisation could potentially widen inter-regional disparities.

“Decentralisation without being accompanied and balanced by justice will only produce inequalities,” he stated.

Furthermore, he explained that regional autonomy is not only related to authority but also to the responsibility of local governments in providing quality public services and clean governance.