CONSULT MINISTRY AND PUBLIC, CONDUCT RESEARCH
To stay on the right track, leaders should actively consult relevant parties, said experts.
Trubus said regional leaders should ideally consult the interior ministry, which oversees the regional leaders, before implementing new programmes.
Ideally, regional leaders should also involve the public before introducing a new scheme to avoid controversy and appearing as though they are showing off regional superiority, he said.
The interior ministry should also be more proactive in contacting regional leaders and supervising them so they stay on the right track with their missions, as well as Prabowo’s.
“For example, the transgender ban (in Gorontalo) is against human rights. That is dangerous,” he added.
Political psychology expert Hamdi Muluk from the University of Indonesia said regional leaders should create evidence-based policies.
They can consult their subordinates who are experts on some issues, he said.
Alternatively, they can reach out to universities to conduct research before coming up with a new programme.
“For example, the boot camp military programme can be studied very carefully (with) a pedagogical, psychological approach, before being implemented,” said Hamdi.
“It would be better if policy creation were on a meritocratic or technocratic basis.”
Ultimately, economist Mohammad Faisal from think tank the Centre of Reform on Economics (CORE) Indonesia said there are many problems in the country, and Prabowo has many goals. Every region is also striving for economic growth.
On Monday, the Indonesian statistics agency said the country’s economy grew 4.87 per cent in the first quarter from a year earlier, its weakest growth rate in over three years.
It was down from 5.02 per cent in the previous quarter, and a far cry from Prabowo’s target to achieve 8 per cent economic growth annually.
“The main problem at the moment everywhere is economic problems, from lack of jobs to eradicating poverty – every region faces these problems,” said Faisal.
“The role of regional heads is not only to target short-term populist programmes or quick wins, but they should solve the root of the problems in their regions.”
He added that with the uncertain global economic outlook, which would affect Indonesia’s economy, the pressure is greater for regional leaders to excel.
There are also problems that are impossible for one region to tackle alone, he said.
“There must be synchronisation between regional policies and even collaboration between regions,” he said.
Indonesians like Jakartan Fita Destriyana, 30, want the government to create policies that directly benefit ordinary people.
“For example, if the government focuses on providing free and accessible education,” she said.
“In my neighbourhood Tanah Abang, there are still many school dropouts – even though Tanah Abang is near the presidential palace.”
