Malra Regent: If the Capital of the Regency is Not Properly Recognized, the Position of the Region Will Be Weakened

JAKARTA - The public's mistake in calling the administrative area is considered to have a direct impact on weakening the position of the region in planning and development policies.

This issue emerged in the 2026 National Strategic Dialogue held by the Indonesian Cyber Media Network (JMSI) together with the Government of the Southeast Maluku Regency (Malra), at the Sahid University Graduate School, Jakarta, Thursday, January 15.

The dialogue with the theme "Indonesia's Blue Economy: Bridging National Policy with Regional Implementation" highlighted the role of the media in shaping regional branding. Malra was used as a concrete example of how inaccurate information can affect public perception to inter-agency coordination.

The Regent of Southeast Maluku (Malra), M. Thaher Hanubun revealed that until now Langgur City is still often referred to as Tual City, although the two are different administrative entities.

"This is not just about the name. When Langgur City and Tual City continue to be equated, the impact is real. Public understanding is wrong, coordination is disrupted, even policies can be missed. If the capital of the district is not recognized properly, the position of the region will be weakened," said Thaher in a written statement received on Monday, January 19.

He emphasized that the rectification of the mention of the region was not to eliminate Tual City, but to ensure that development was proportional and based on appropriate administrative data.

JMSI Chairman Teguh Santosa considered the Malra case as a warning for the media. According to him, the media not only conveys events, but also determines how the public understands an area.

"The way the media constructs the narrative determines whether the region is understood as a whole or is actually mistaken. Therefore, collaboration between national and regional media is crucial," said Teguh.

This dialogue also involves academics and students of the Sahid University Communication Science Doctoral Program. The forum emphasized that the blue economy is not enough to rely on natural resources, but also on the power of communication and consistency of regional branding.