The phenomenon of regional heads spending excessive time in Jakarta has once again drawn public attention. In many regions, residents have grown accustomed to hearing that their governors, regents, or mayors are in Jakarta for meetings, coordination, or waiting for scheduled appointments with ministries and state institutions. President Prabowo Subianto has even emphasized that regional heads must take greater responsibility by being present more often in the areas they govern.
Professor of Public Policy Management at Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), Professor Wahyudi Kumorotomo, views this practice not merely as a matter of poor leadership ethics but also as one that has serious implications for governance effectiveness and the absorption of public aspirations at the regional level.
According to Professor Kumorotomo, the tendency of regional leaders to spend more time in Jakarta has persisted for a long time and has even become normalized.
“Many governors, regents, mayors, and even regional secretaries are more likely to stay in hotels in Jakarta to conduct lobbying, when they should be in their regions directly monitoring development and serving the public,” he said on Monday (Dec. 29).
He stressed that the physical absence of regional leaders hinders development effectiveness and weakens the channeling of citizens’ aspirations. The presence of a regional head in their area, he argued, cannot be replaced by written reports or remote coordination.
“Leaders who are rarely present in their regions lose a real understanding of the problems faced by the community, increasing the risk that policies will miss their intended targets,” he explained.
Furthermore, Professor Kumorotomo noted that this issue is difficult to resolve because it has become deeply rooted and is often regarded as normal by both political elites and parts of the public.
He argued that regional heads should set an example by spending more time in their own regions, while the central government, particularly the Ministry of Home Affairs, needs to exercise stricter oversight.
“The Minister of Home Affairs should conduct regular, unannounced inspections to ensure that regional heads are truly carrying out their duties on the ground,” he asserted.
In the context of central–regional relations, Professor Kumorotomo emphasized that coordination with the central government should not be used to justify regional heads remaining away from their regions for extended periods.
Central government officials, he said, need to continuously monitor regional leaders’ performance while strengthening institutional coordination mechanisms so that central affairs do not always require regional leaders to be physically present in Jakarta. At the same time, he highlighted the importance of political education for the public.
“In reality, there are regents who return to their regions only once a month yet are still re-elected. This shows that the public needs to be made aware of the dangers of money politics and the importance of choosing leaders who are genuinely present,” he remarked.
Professor Kumorotomo also expressed hope that regional leaders in Papua, in particular, will develop a stronger moral awareness in carrying out their mandate. He underscored that public officials are paid with public funds and therefore have an obligation to fully dedicate themselves to serving society.
“They must realize that their primary duty is to serve the people, not to enjoy comfort in Jakarta at the expense of the suffering of communities in their regions,” he concluded.
Through these reflections, he emphasized that the presence of regional heads is not merely an administrative matter but a key factor in ensuring that development is carried out effectively and transparently and in favor of local community welfare.
Author: Kezia Dwina Nathania
Editor: Gusti Grehenson
Post-editor: Rajendra Arya
Photograph: Antara