It Requires Careful Scrutiny to Choose 101 Acting Regional Heads

The Human Development Index and economic conditions in 101 regions that will be led by acting regional heads in 2022 are quite varied. The Government needs to carefully select figures to serve as acting regional heads.

KOMPAS/ANGGER PUTRANTO

Banyuwangi Regent Ipuk Fiestiandani signed the minutes of handover of the positions of Banyuwangi Regent and Deputy Regent at the Banyuwangi DPRD Building, Tuesday (2/3/2021). The Human Development Index is one of the homework that must be completed by the new Banyuwangi regional head.

JAKARTA, KOMPAS — The first batch of acting regional heads will start taking office in mid-May 2022. With about a month left, the central government needs to pay close attention to the highly varied regional characteristics and challenges in the selection process for acting regional heads.

This is important so that acting regional heads can move quickly to enable economic recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic. In addition, they can improve the quality of life of their people.

Based on data from the Home Ministry, the first batch of acting regional heads will begin in May 2022, consisting of 5 provinces, 6 cities and 37 regencies. In 2022, there will be 101 regions led by acting regional heads and 171 regions in 2023.

The results of the Kompas Research and Development study on a number of regional statistical data show that there are a variety of conditions in the 101 regions that will be led by acting regional heads in 2022. In terms of economic growth, 77 regions are below the national average and 24 are above it.

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Meanwhile, in terms of the Human Development Index (HDI), 72 regions are below the national average, while 29 regions are above it. In terms of HDI category, 42 regions are rated high or very high, whereas 59 are medium or low.

Professor of Economics at IPB University, Hermanto Siregar, contacted in Jakarta, West Java, on Sunday (17/4/2022), said that the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic had not yet been overcome. National economic growth is already positive, but it is still below the pre-pandemic average. At the regional level, the average economic growth is below the national average.

Therefore, according to Hermanto, the acting regional heads should have a high capacity. If their capacity is mediocre, it will make efforts to lift the social and economic sectors in the regions difficult.

KOMPAS/AHMAD ARIF

Two children walk on a limestone hill partially covered with savanna in Umbu Ratu Nggay District, Central Sumba, late July 2016. Sumba is one of the areas with the lowest Public Health Development Index (IPKM) and Human Development Index (IPM) in Indonesia.

According to him, the HDI condition of each region reflects the challenges that must be faced by the acting regional heads who will be assigned to that area. Thus, the selection of acting regional heads cannot be arbitrary and must be adjusted to the HDI of each region.

Many criteria for selecting an acting regional head are the same regardless of region. However, regions with low HDI need leaders who are able to identify the real conditions of the community and have a strong commitment to human-oriented development. In areas with a high HDI, the acting regional heads just need to develop existing programs.

If they have the vision of a regional head, it would be better because it takes seriousness to develop the region.

“The challenge is how to find candidates who are similar to the definitive regional heads. That means they can't just carry out a temporary function. If they have the vision of a regional head, it would be better because it takes seriousness to develop the region," he said.

Executive director of the Center of Reform on Economics Indonesia, Mohammad Faisal, said that the figure of an acting regional head needed in encouraging economic development in the region does not only focus on projects or physical development. Equally important is the effort to improve the quality of human resources.

Candidate screening mechanism

The executive director of the Committee for the Monitoring of Regional Autonomy Implementation, Herman Nurcahyadi Suparman, recommended choosing an acting regional head who understands the social and economic needs of the area. Technical regulations are needed to realize an accountable screening mechanism. The process must be transparent and open to public participation; for example, using digital technology to provide input or records.

Herman hopes that the regional head selection team will involve the Administrative and Bureaucratic Reform Ministry. An important criterion for the acting regional heads is that they know the reform process in the bureaucracy, both at the ministry and at the provincial level.

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President Joko Widodo and Vice President Ma'ruf Amin walk together with Jambi Governor Al Haris and Jambi Deputy Governor Abdullah Sani, before the inauguration ceremony at the State Palace, Jakarta, Wednesday (7/7/2021).

In addition, their reputations in their communities are important to consider in the selection process. This can enable both accountability and acceptance, both in terms of capacity and integrity, as well as public trust in the central government that handpicks the acting regional heads.

The head of administration and apparatus empowerment for the Association of Regency Administrations throughout Indonesia, Nikson Nababan, said that in increasing the HDI in the regions, an acting regional head who has experienced or is currently assisting the incumbent regional heads in the region is needed. They already understand the conditions and the regional medium-term development plans, as well as the regional strategic plans. According to him, the acting regional head could be a regional secretary or an ASN who had served as regional head the previous year.

Regarding the selection process, the director general of regional development in the Home Ministry, Teguh Setyabudi, said that the directorate general of regional autonomy in the Home Ministry is currently compiling lists of criteria and things that must be carried out by acting regional heads, one of which is related to increasing the HDI. This shows the seriousness of the central government -- that the selection of the acting regional heads is measured, not random.

"There are several indicators that need to be considered -- to ensure that the acting regional heads carry out their duties by taking these indicators into account," he said.

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The acting regional heads, he said, must not only understand aspects of governance, but also increase HDI in the regions. HDI will determine the future of younger generations of Indonesia.

According to Teguh, the Home Ministry will oversee the success of the acting regional heads in increasing the HDI in the regions. They should pay more attention to prioritizing the program to increase HDI in terms of regulatory and budgetary policies. On the other hand, they must also be able to maintain the regional economy, especially so that the Regional Budget (APBD) is not in a deficit.

This is important because the budget for the education and health sectors which are part of the HDI is allocated from the APBD. As regulated by law, the budget allocation for education is at least 20 percent of the APBD while the budget for health is 10 percent.

"We will monitor the acting regional head, whether he [or she] deserves to keep [their position] or not," said Teguh.

This article was translated by Kurniawan Siswo.