Pramono is surprised that Jakarta is the second safest city in ASEAN 

DKI Jakarta Governor Pramono Anung/PHOTO: Diah Ayu-VOI

JAKARTA - DKI Jakarta Governor Pramono Anung responded to the results of the Global Residence Index 2026 which placed Jakarta as the second safest city in the ASEAN region. He admitted that the results were beyond his expectations.

"Regarding the results (Jakarta as) the second safest city in ASEAN, I was actually surprised too," said Pramono at the DKI Jakarta City Hall, Tuesday, April 7.

This position places Jakarta only below Singapore, surpassing a number of other major cities in Southeast Asia. Pramono assessed that this achievement is inseparable from the social conditions of the Jakarta community which is relatively conducive, especially in maintaining diversity in the public space.

"Maybe because of various activities held in public spaces ranging from Christmas, Chinese New Year, Nyepi, Ramadan, Eid al-Fitr, which thankfully shows the strength of diversity in Jakarta, it also becomes according to me as what, a showcase or symbol about Jakarta itself," said Pramono.

He alluded that Jakarta's position has often been below cities such as Bangkok, Manila, and Kuala Lumpur in various global assessments. However, the latest results show a shift.

According to Pramono, this achievement needs to be maintained collectively, both by the government and the community, so that stability and security in the capital city are maintained.

"So Jakarta, which has always been below Bangkok and Manila and Kuala Lumpur, is now only after Singapore. We have to take care of it, we have to take care of it together," he said.

Reports on a city's security index often serve as a reference for determining the destination chosen by tourists. In the Southeast Asian region, Singapore is one of the safest cities for tourists to visit. Referring to the Global Residence Index report as of January 16, 2026, Singapore is the safest city in Southeast Asia 2026 and ranks 7th globally.

Based on the Global Residence Index report of January 16, 2026, Singapore ranks first on the list of the safest cities in Southeast Asia 2026 with a security index of 0.90. Singapore has long been known for its strict legal system, sophisticated surveillance, and very low crime rate.

The second position on the list was occupied by Jakarta with a score of 0.72. This achievement shows a significant improvement in the perception of security in the Indonesian capital. Various efforts such as surveillance digitization, improvement of public facilities, and city planning have contributed greatly to this result.

Meanwhile, Bangkok is in third place with a score of 0.65. This city remains a favorite destination for world tourists, although its security level is still below Jakarta. Followed by Vientiane (0.61) and Hanoi (0.60) which also show fairly good security stability.

Here is the complete list of the safest cities in Southeast Asia 2026: Singapore, Singapore - 0.90 Jakarta, Indonesia - 0.72 Bangkok, Thailand - 0.65 Vientiane, Laos - 0.61 Hanoi, Vietnam - 0.60 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia - 0.57 Phuket, Thailand - 0.57 Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam - 0.56 Phnom Penh, Cambodia - 0.55 Manila, Philippines - 0.41