By: Prof. Dr. Drs. Ermaya Suradinata, S.H., M.H., M.Si.

Editor: Dhania Puspa Purbasari

In the context of the new government under President-elect Prabowo Subianto and Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka, the relevance of reformed government management institutions is still very significant. Since the 1998 reforms, Indonesia has built various institutions aimed at improving transparency, accountability and efficiency of government.

Institutions such as the Corruption Eradication Commission, the Ombudsman of the Republic of Indonesia and the Civil Service Commission have played an important role in achieving these goals. The existence and performance of these institutions remain vital in the new government to support the Prabowo-Gibran reform agenda.

At the same time, improving the quality of the bureaucracy will be an important focus of the Prabowo-Gibran administration. Institutions such as the Indonesian Civil Service Commission have a crucial role in supporting the government’s agenda to improve the professionalism and efficiency of the bureaucracy.

As an institution that oversees the implementation of the merit system in the management of the Indonesian Civil Servant, the Indonesian Civil Service Commission must ensure that the recruitment, placement and promotion processes of the Indonesian Civil Servant are based on qualifications and competencies, not on political connections or personal interests.

Meritocracy in the management of the Indonesian Civil Servant should be maintained and improved to create a bureaucracy that is competent and responsive to the needs of society. However, many reform institutions still face human and financial resource constraints that hamper efforts to improve the quality of the bureaucracy. Without adequate resources, it is difficult for these institutions to carry out their duties effectively and efficiently.

Therefore, the government’s commitment to providing the necessary support is crucial. The Prabowo-Gibran administration must commit to providing adequate support for these institutions to function optimally. This includes adequate budget allocation, recruitment of competent experts, and capacity building through training and continuing education.

By doing so, these institutions can better perform their duties, ensuring that every civil servant has the skills and integrity needed to serve the public with high professionalism. Investments in training, technology and infrastructure are also crucial to strengthen the ability of these institutions to perform their duties efficiently.

Improving the quality of the bureaucracy through adequate support and strategic investment, will be an important foundation for the success of the Prabowo-Gibran administration’s agenda. By strengthening government management institutions and ensuring that the Indonesian Civil Servant works based on meritocratic principles, the Prabowo-Gibran administration can create a more professional, efficient and responsive bureaucracy.

Public service oversight is therefore a priority. Strengthening institutions such as the Ombudsman becomes very relevant. The Ombudsman has an important role in monitoring and evaluating the quality of public services, as well as ensuring that any public complaints are handled effectively and transparently. In the context of the new government, increasing the capacity and effectiveness of the Ombudsman will support the government’s efforts to provide quality public services that are responsive to the needs of the people.

Similarly, bureaucratic reforms and oversight institutions established during the reform era should remain the foundation for the creation of a clean, effective and public service-oriented government. Reforms that began in the late 1990s have created a strong framework for overseeing government performance and preventing corruption. Institutions such as the Corruption Eradication Commission, the Indonesian Civil Service Commission and the Ombudsman have demonstrated the importance of transparency and accountability in governance.

The reform principles promoted by these institutions are in line with Prabowo-Gibran’s vision and mission, which emphasize the importance of efficient and clean government. A transparent, accountable and efficient government is key to increasing public trust and encouraging community participation in development. Public trust is an important asset for the government to run its programs with the full support of the community. Strong and effective oversight of public services can increase public trust in government.

When people feel that the government is acting transparently and accountably, they are more likely to support government policies and programs. So to achieve this goal, the Prabowo-Gibran administration must ensure that oversight institutions such as the Ombudsman have adequate resources and strong independence. This includes sufficient budget allocation, recruitment of competent experts, and capacity building through training and continuing education.

With adequate support, public service oversight can be effective in supporting the creation of a clean, transparent government that is responsive to the needs of the people. The Prabowo-Gibran administration, with its commitment to bureaucratic reform and improving the quality of public services, should be able to harness the potential of oversight institutions to achieve these goals. By ensuring that these institutions function optimally, the new administration can encourage public participation in development.

On the other hand, adaptation to new challenges is also a must for government management institutions. In the digital age and in the midst of global crises such as the pandemic, these institutions must be able to adapt quickly. Digitalization of government processes and public services is one important step. These institutions must develop more efficient and transparent systems through information technology.

The Prabowo-Gibran administration must ensure that these institutions are ready to face these challenges, and able to innovate to remain relevant in changing conditions. The relevance of reformed government management institutions in the Prabowo-Gibran government cannot be doubted. The main challenges are ensuring the independence of these institutions from political interference, increasing their capacity and resources, and ensuring rapid adaptation to new challenges.

Through strong commitment and adequate support, the Prabowo-Gibran administration can harness the potential of these institutions to achieve the broader goals of bureaucratic reform, which will ultimately provide great benefits to the people and nation of Indonesia.

Prof. Dr. Drs. Ermaya Suradinata, S.H., M.H., M.Si. was Governor of Lemhannas RI (2001-2005) and Director General of Socio-Politics of the Ministry of Home Affairs (1998-2000). He is currently Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Center for Geopolitics & Geostrategy Studies Indonesia (CGSI), Chairman of the Expert Council Team of the Indonesian Pancasila Ideology Development Agency (BPIP).