Observers: Governor Officials Expected To Be Professional, Not Serving Certain Political Powers

JAKARTA - The Executive Director of Indonesian Political Parameters Adi Prayitno hopes that the acting governors, including the one who replaces the position of DKI Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan, will be professional in carrying out their duties. They were asked not to become loyalists of certain political forces.

It is known that there are 101 regional heads at the district, city and provincial levels whose terms of office expire in 2022. Including the Governor and Deputy Governor of DKI Jakarta.

"The acting governor is expected to be professional and not servile to certain political forces. That is important because it is feared that after being directly appointed by the government, they will become loyalists of certain political forces which should be avoided," Adi told reporters quoted on Sunday, January 23.

Adi agrees that an acting governor cannot be completely separated from political interests. However, at least this must be prevented in various ways, including holding a fit and proper test.

He said the fit and proper test is important so that their vision and mission are known to the public. "I have always suggested on various occasions that even though there are no rules or laws, there needs to be a fit and proper test," he said.

"Don't be like choosing a cat in a sack. Even if they are trusted by the government, the public at least knows," added Adi.

In addition to the fit and proper test, another way is the signing of an integrity pact.

"So that they do not interfere with political interests, do not support the power of certain parties or groups. This is important so that the public feels comfortable that hundreds of officials will be people who work professionally, not become political tools," he explained.

It was previously reported that to fill the positions of hundreds of regional heads that ended, the Ministry of Home Affairs would place an acting (Pj) regional head.

The officials will be filled by state civil apparatus (ASN), TNI, and Polri. They will lead the region until a new regional head is elected in the 2024 Pilkada.