Considered Incapable, 14 Acting Regional Heads Will Be Replaced

JAKARTA - Deputy Minister of Home Affairs (Wamendagri) Bima Arya Sugiarto said there are 14 regional heads (Pj) who will be replaced related to the end of their term of office or performance evaluation.

"That's right, what was conveyed earlier was that there were 14 officials who in the near future were planned for a replacement. Most of it was due to the end of their term of office and several, four (officials), because of the evaluation. So if the evaluation is definitely related to performance," Bima said as quoted by ANTARA, Monday, November 11.

He said that the term of office ended and the evaluation of the acting performance by the Ministry of Home Affairs inspectorate was a mechanism for the basis carried out by his party in replacing a number of regional head officials.

"The acting regional heads have different terms of office. So even if a change is made, it is because their term of office ends and we evaluate it. If the evaluation is good, there are general considerations, it will continue, but if there is a report or the performance is considered to be lacking, a change will be made," he said after the meeting.

The Deputy Minister of Home Affairs has no political element content in changing a number of regional head officials, especially in the context of the momentum ahead of the 2024 Pilkada.

"There is no political element here, this is simply because of the end of his term of office and because of his performance. It is impossible for us to force the acting regional heads who have many reports and are considered not to have good performance, but continue, let alone their duty to guard the regional elections," he said.

Bima Arya said the Ministry of Home Affairs Inspectorate conducted periodic evaluations regarding the performance of regional heads.

"If the performance is far away, it is impossible (to continue), yes even though (the term of office) is three or four months away, but it can have an impact on the running of the government," he said.

The Deputy Minister of Home Affairs did not specify which areas his acting would be replaced. However, he emphasized that the change in the acting regional head for the reasons for the evaluation of this performance was not due to a violation of neutrality ahead of the 2024 Pilkada.

"So far, it is more of a communication issue with stakeholders, there are budget problems, leadership capacity, something like that. So people who are considered incapable of running the government," he said.