Indonesia, as a large country with abundant natural resources and a growing population, has high hopes of achieving developed nation status. The country has various advantages, including its strategic geographical location, cultural diversity, and abundant natural resources.

However, the journey toward developed nation status is not easy, with significant challenges along the way. Bureaucracy was originally created to streamline work mechanisms, oversight, and work efficiency. However, in practice, it has often been misused. The main challenge hindering Indonesia’s progress is bureaucracy that has become overly complex, and corruption that runs rampant. These two issues, although seemingly separate, are interconnected and worsen the development situation that should be progressing more quickly and efficiently.

The complex bureaucracy, often inefficient, has become one of the major structural issues that hinder Indonesia’s progress. As a country with a decentralized government system, Indonesia faces a significant challenge in managing thousands of rules and procedures that must be adhered to by various parties, from the central government to regional governments.

At the central level, there are many ministries, agencies, and bodies with their own authorities, while at the regional level, local governments often have different policies. The lack of alignment between policies at the central and regional levels worsens the situation. One concrete example of this bureaucratic issue is the convoluted licensing process. Whenever there is a development project, whether it’s a large project such as infrastructure development or a smaller-scale project, entrepreneurs and investors have to navigate through long and unclear licensing procedures.

This often slows down the pace of development and reduces Indonesia’s competitiveness at the global level. This non-transparent process also leads to legal uncertainty, which makes many investors hesitant to invest in Indonesia. They are concerned about unclear regulations and the long time it takes to obtain permits. Additionally, the lack of coordination between government agencies often causes delays in projects that should help accelerate Indonesia’s economic development.

Meanwhile, corruption is another issue that worsens this already complex bureaucracy. Although Indonesia has an anti-corruption agency like the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), corruption remains a significant problem that undermines government efficiency. Corruption occurs at various levels of government, both central and regional, and pervades almost every sector.

From procurement of goods and services to licensing processes, corrupt practices hinder the flow of resources that should be used for public interest. These corrupt practices often result in funds that should be used for infrastructure, education, and healthcare development being diverted for personal or certain groups’ interests. As a result, many large projects are delayed or even canceled, while the people continue to suffer from inadequate facilities and public services.

Corruption also exacerbates social and economic inequality. It widens the gap between the rich and the poor and creates social tension. This injustice not only harms the well-being of society but also threatens Indonesia’s political and social stability in the long term. When the people feel that they are not treated fairly by the state, it can erode public trust in the government and undermine the foundations of democracy.

The Indonesian government must take various steps to address the complex bureaucracy and corruption issues. One important step in improving the bureaucracy is by simplifying existing administrative procedures. One way to do this is by reducing overlapping authorities between government agencies and promoting the use of information technology in public administration management.

The implementation of e-government, for example, can expedite the licensing process, improve transparency, and reduce opportunities for corruption. With digitization, administrative processes become more efficient and can be monitored directly, minimizing the space for abuse of power by officials. However, eradicating corruption must remain a top priority. Strengthening anti-corruption institutions like the KPK and ensuring transparency in the management of public budgets are important steps in reducing corruption.

Enforcing strict laws against corruption perpetrators and improving the internal oversight systems in each government agency are also necessary to ensure that corrupt actions are not left unchecked. In this regard, public education and awareness about the importance of fighting corruption are also vital because the public’s role in providing oversight and reporting corrupt practices becomes part of the solution.

The challenges of complex bureaucracy and widespread corruption must be addressed if Indonesia is to achieve its goal of becoming a developed nation. Structural reforms in bureaucracy and stronger anti-corruption efforts are essential. Without these two elements, Indonesia will struggle to optimize its potential and compete globally.

Indonesia has everything it needs to progress, but to achieve this, the country must reform its administrative system and combat corruption comprehensively. With the right steps, through the Mental Revolution education, the development of national character among public servants, leaders, and state organizers, Indonesia can accelerate progress and fulfill its dream of becoming a prosperous, developed country for all its people.

Prof. Dr. Drs. Ermaya Suradinata, SH, MH, MS, is a member of the Expert Council of BPIP RI in the field of Geopolitics and Government Management Geostrategy.