Monday, 8 July 2013

GOVERMENT DESIGNATED 98 PILOT PROJECTS FOR BUREAUCRATIC REFORM

Vice President Boediono is scheduled to make declaration of bureaucratic reform of local governments in Jakarta on Tuesday (5/28). The declaration will be marked by the designation of 98 local governments as pilot project for bureaucratic reform. The Ministry of Empowerment of State Apparatus and Bureaucratic reform, Tasdik Kinanto, said that the designation of 98 local governments as pilot project is set forth in Decree of Minister of Empowerment of State Apparatus and Bureaucratic Reform no. 96/2013 on Designation of Pilot Project for Local Governments. The number consists of 33 provincial governments, 32 provincial capitals (30 cities and 2 regencies), and 35 regencies.

 With the declaration being made, it is expected that bureaucratic reform within the local government is getting enthusiastic in creating a government bureaucracy which is clean, competent, and serving. The designation of pilot project for local government bureaucratic reform is not the only way for local governments to implement bureaucratic reform. For local governments who have high commitment, and have met the requirement as stipulated in the regulation of Minister of Empowerment of State Apparatus and Bureaucratic Reform No. 30/2012 on guidelines for Proposing, Designation, and Development of Local Government Bureaucratic Reform, a door is opened for them to submit proposal documents to the National Bureaucracy Reform Management Unit (UPRBN). 

Designation of regency to be a pilot project was initiated by a proposal of the provincial government of the Minister of Empowerment of State Apparatus and Bureaucratic Reform, with some criteria that must be met. Formation of Bureaucratic Reform Team is an absolute prerequisite that must be met. In addition, local governments should also provide sufficient budget for the implementation of bureaucratic reform. “The budget was allocated from optimization of the existing budget. So, the local government should be able to make efficiency of its budget. Tasdik Kinanto told Business News (5/28). 

Another requirement is the regional governments must at least achieve a Qualified Opinion of the supreme Audit Agency (BPK), value of performance accountability of government agencies (AKIP) of at least CC, and community satisfaction index (IKM) good average. Once established as a pilot project, the 98 local governments have to submit the proposal documents and draft of roadmap to the national bureaucracy reform team (TRBN) through UPRBN. Next, the governments should establish a roadmap in accordance with regulation of the governor, regent, and the mayor. The roadmap must be prepared in accordance with challenges, characteristic, and conditions of each local government. “Uniformity should be prevented as it would impede the initiative and progress of the bureaucratic reform of the local governments itself”.

The designation of local government as a pilot project of bureaucratic reform does not happen instantly, but there is a series of processes that have been done before. The ministry of empowerment of state apparatus and bureaucratic reform had proactively performed socialization and technical guidance to the bureaucracy reform implementation team of the local government. In addition, improvement of capacity and capability for bureaucracy reform implementers whether individually or as a team is also conducted. In decree No. 96/2013 it is stated that the local government pilot project has the task to form a local government’s bureaucracy reform team, which consists of a steering committee chaired by the governor/regent/mayor and an executive committee chaired by the regional secretary.

Another task is to determine the baseline of local government’s bureaucratic reform in accordance with self-assessment guidelines for the implement roadmap stages, and to carry out monitoring and evaluation of the implementation of bureaucratic reform in accordance with established guidelines. In addition, there is an obligation to report regularly and at any time the implementation of local government bureaucratic reform to the national bureaucracy reform team.

Meanwhile, business news observation in some public services centers continued to show positive things. The most obvious thing during the observation is the central Jakarta immigration office. A few years ago, there is no billboard on invitation not to collect illegal levies and not to use the services of brokers. Now, billboard is installed in front of the immigration office Jl. Merpati, Kemayoran, Central Jakarta. However, some foreigners are still not confident with the services systems and procedures, particularly for arrangement of KITAS (temporary stay permit), re-entry permit, and so forth, some foreigners use the services of other parties. “I cannot imagine there are hundreds of people crowding our office every day. But, l cannot speak Indonesia. But l had no other choice, except to arrange KITAS, re-entry permit, and so forth”, Chou, a Taiwanese expatriate who has been staying in Indonesia for almost a year”, told business news (5/28).

Chou admitted that the services officers tend to use Indonesia language. While, they know that not all foreigners can speak Indonesian. So, the foreigners are accompanied by the “local” people. Chou also said that he would ask about the “fee” for the permit arrangement. “Accidentally, l have a staffs who works within government bureaucracy. So, he knows the characters and the customs of the officers at the services counters, including the immigration office.”

Business News sees that there is almost no “illegal” practice inside and outside the immigration office. But, when there are things that are considered less appropriate, the service officer usually invites the applicant to meet with his superior. As experienced by Chou when he is a bit confused, the officer introduced him to his superior. After talking about what the problem is, the superior talk to his subordinates. “To be sure, my KITAS would be finished on time. But all of this is because of the help of my staff at the office.”


And, the officers on the 5th floor at the directorate general of immigration, ministry of justice and human rights at kuningan, south Jakarta, are also more professional. They are sociable, meaning that they will first hear about the issues of the applicant. “They helped me. Usually they used the term “parachute”. It means fast processing so the immigration document will be completed in a relatively shorter time. Supposedly, those who are non-members are not given a formal receipt. But, there is at least an initial or signature of the officer concerned. I did not spend any money for KITAS processing. (E)     

Business News - May 31, 2013

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