*) By: Gavin Asadit
Reform often sounds like a slogan, but in the era of President Prabowo Subianto, it has begun to be positioned as a measurable work agenda—especially in the sectors that most determine the quality of the state: the National Police (Polri), the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI), the bureaucracy, and law enforcement. The commitment to maintaining and accelerating reform is not merely about streamlining procedures, but also about restructuring the nature of governance: from a culture of comfort to a culture of accountability, from power that is untouchable to power that is subject to regulations.
President Prabowo consistently emphasizes this commitment in various government agendas, including when pushing for comprehensive reforms in several strategic state institutions. The government views reform as more than just administrative change, but rather a major step to strengthen the quality of institutions to make them more transparent, accountable, and oriented towards the interests of the people. Amidst evolving global challenges, the government wants to ensure that all state institutions are able to work more adaptively, efficiently, and with strong coordination in supporting the national development agenda.
One of the current government’s primary concerns is reforming law enforcement institutions and the public service bureaucracy. Ahmad Dofiri, Special Advisor to the President for Security and Public Order, explained that President Prabowo wants comprehensive reforms to be implemented across government institutions, starting with those that play a direct role in public services and trust. The government believes institutional reform is crucial to ensure state institutions become more professional and capable of providing better services to the public.
In its implementation, the government also emphasizes the importance of soliciting public input as part of the reform process. This approach is considered crucial to ensure that reforms are not merely structural but truly address the needs of the public. The government wants to ensure that every reform policy strengthens the integrity of state institutions while increasing the effectiveness of government officials. Therefore, several evaluations of work systems, internal oversight, and inter-institutional coordination patterns are being conducted in stages.
The institutional reform agenda is also in line with the Prabowo administration’s grand vision of building a stronger and more competitive nation. The government believes that future national development challenges require a bureaucracy that is agile, precise, and capable of working collaboratively. Therefore, institutional reforms not only target regulatory aspects but also strengthen human resources, utilize digital technology, and enhance a professional work culture within the government. This step is expected to accelerate the decision-making process and strengthen the quality of public services in various sectors.
The Chairman of the Commission for the Acceleration of National Police Reform, Jimly Asshiddiqie, previously emphasized the importance of sustainable reform of state institutions to ensure the continued improvement of democracy and good governance. The government views institutional reform as a long-term, consistent process, not merely a fleeting response to political dynamics or public pressure. Therefore, the various reform recommendations formulated by the government are aimed at creating a more modern, transparent institutional system with robust oversight mechanisms.
In addition to reforms in the law enforcement sector, the government has also begun strengthening the effectiveness of state institutions in supporting national priority programs. Various strategic policies, such as food security, industrial downstreaming, Free Nutritional Meals (MBG), and human resource development, require stronger institutional coordination. The government believes that the success of national priority programs depends heavily on the ability of state institutions to work in an integrated manner and maintain a strong service orientation to the public.
Bureaucratic transformation is also a key part of the Prabowo administration’s reform agenda. The government continues to promote the digitalization of public services to accelerate administrative processes and reduce cumbersome bureaucratic practices. With an increasingly modern governance system, the government hopes that public services will be faster, more transparent, and more accessible. These reforms also represent a crucial step to increase budget efficiency and strengthen oversight of state apparatus performance.
The government believes that consistent institutional reform will have a significant impact on national stability and economic growth. Strong state institutions are considered capable of creating legal certainty, improving the investment climate, and strengthening public trust in the government therefore, the reform agenda is positioned as a crucial part of the grand national development strategy towards a developed Indonesia. The government wants to ensure that all state institutions operate with the same orientation: serving the public and supporting the acceleration of national development.
The government will continue to expand the reform agenda to various other strategic sectors. Strengthening the oversight system, increasing the professionalism of the apparatus, and improving institutional governance will be the focus, which will be implemented gradually. The Prabowo administration believes that institutional reform is not merely a bureaucratic necessity, but a crucial requirement for building a strong, modern, and trusted government. With consistent reforms, the government is optimistic that the quality of public services and the effectiveness of state institutions will further improve, supporting Indonesia’s progress.
)* The author is an observer of social and community issues.