Archipelago's Indonesian Geography Becomes A Challenge For Regional Heads, Minister Of Home Affairs Demands Improvement Of Capabilities

Minister of Home Affairs Tito Karnavian gave a statement to reporters after the opening of the Regional Leadership Eradication Course (KPPD) Wave II of the National Resilience Institution (Lemhannas) of the Republic of Indonesia (RI) in Jakarta, Wednesday (5/11/2025). BETWEEN/Fianda Sjofjan Rassat

JAKARTA - Minister of Home Affairs (Mendagi) Tito Karnavian asked regional heads to continue to improve the capabilities of the government, one of which is through the Regional Leadership Development Course for Wave II National Resilience Institutions (Lemhannas) RI.

"We realize that we need to improve the ability to strengthen the capabilities of regional leaders. Because we use the principle of our government which is semi-decentralized, where some of the authority we have is handed over to the regions," Tito said at the Opening of the 2025 Wave II Regional Leadership Implementation Course (KPPD) at the Lemhannas RI Office, Jakarta, Wednesday.

The Minister of Home Affairs said regional heads play a central role in managing governments in their respective regions. Moreover, Indonesia is a large country with a high level of administrative complexity.

Tito compared Indonesia to large-population countries, such as China, India, and the mainland-based United States, so that the challenges were relatively lower. Indonesia's geography as an archipelagic country makes governance much more challenging.

"Ararchic countries, people spread across islands, in mountains, in valleys, and others. So it's not easy. Well, this is all handed over some of their authority to the regions. Regional heads can issue regulations, including regional head regulations, governors, mayors, regents," he said.

This policy, continued the Minister of Home Affairs, has a direct impact on the community so that the ability of regional heads must continue to be strengthened. What's more, regional heads who are elected in regional elections have various backgrounds, not only from bureaucrats, but also entrepreneurs, artists, to artists.

"So it requires special capabilities to be leaders in the regions, who make policies for their communities. And our society is one of the most complex countries," he explained.

The Minister of Home Affairs also mentioned four public typology, namely information-based people, industry, agriculture, and pre-agcultural (isolated). Indonesia has all these typology so that regional leaders need to have qualified managerial and technical abilities to deal with it.

"Later, one of the capabilities packages to strengthen the insight of the archipelago and managerial will be carried out in the classroom, especially in Lemhannas, and then there will be technical government at the BPSDM Ministry of Home Affairs," he added.

The participants will also take part in learning at Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, Singapore. Participants will be invited to deepen their critical way of thinking about the factors that make public services in the country run well, as well as to see the relevant practices applied in the regions.

This experience is expected to inspire regional heads so that after returning home it can encourage innovation and creation in their respective regions.