By: Arif Apriyanto )*
In forming a more agile, integrated and professional bureaucracy, the government is intensively planning to simplify the bureaucracy. With the support of the community the program obstacles can be overcome.
The country’s development priorities do have many posts that must be considered in detail. Especially in the goals of the progress of a country, which can not be separated from the role of the government apparatus. In Indonesia itself is very popular as a hyper-regulation country. Not only is the law considered to be tough, but it also impedes the development of a number of sectors. The most obvious impact is the slow growth of the national economy. Which is often in a stagnant status.
As stated by President Jokowi some time ago related to simplification of bureaucracy. Which will summarize echelonization into just two classifications. While the remaining two positions will be transferred to functional positions that value expertise and competence. Or even replaced by using artificial intelligence robot technology. Simplification of the bureaucracy aims to create a dynamic, agile (professional) bureaucracy in an effort to increase effectiveness and efficiency to support government performance.
In line with the President’s statement, the Ministry of Administrative Reform and Bureaucratic Reform (Kemenpan-RB) will accelerate the acceleration of simplification of positions in the bureaucracy. This year the transfer of positions from structural to functional is targeted to be complete.
PAN-RB Minister Tjahjo Kumolo explained, the simplification of bureaucracy aims to improve the effectiveness of government and accelerate decision making. Which will form a bureaucracy that is more dynamic, agile, and professional in order to increase effectiveness and efficiency in supporting public services.
He revealed that the bureaucratic simplification acceleration will go through five stages. First, the process of identifying administrative positions in work units. Second, regarding the mapping of positions and administrative officials affected by bureaucratic simplification. The third stage is the mapping of functional positions that can be occupied by officials affected by simplification of the bureaucracy.
Next, the fourth step is the alignment of functional position allowances with administrative position allowances. Finally, aligning administrative positions to functional positions.
Although the simplification of this bureaucracy will be carried out in all levels of government, but it is said that there are some positions that cannot be transferred. Of course, the exception is with a number of requirements or functions of his position.
Tjahjo detailed, a position that was not affected by simplification was that it had duties and functions as the Head of the Work Unit with the authority to use the budget and users of goods or services.
Other positions that cannot be transferred are those that have duties and functions relating to legalization, authority, approval, document approval, or regional authority. Including other criteria and special requirements based on the proposal of each ministry or institution to the Minister of PANRB.
In the context of accelerating bureaucratic simplification, Tjahjo also encouraged all leaders of government agencies to carry out strategic and concrete steps. This was allegedly stated in the Circular Letter (SE) of the Minister of PAN-RB number 384, 390, and 391 of 2019 which was addressed to the Minister of the Advanced Indonesian Cabinet, the Governor, along with the Mayor and Regents. Concerning Strategic Steps and Concrete Bureaucratic Simplification. The Circular discusses nine strategic and concrete steps in an effort to simplify the bureaucracy.
This simplification of the bureaucracy was indeed considered as one of the steps to revitalize the system that had been implemented since the Dutch East Indies. This system is indeed notoriously rigid, tough and too hierarchical. So that the implementation is increasingly here hampering the performance of the government apparatus.
Previously, the National Personnel Agency (BKN) claimed to have agreed that the simplification of the bureaucratic policy could have an impact on the efficiency and savings of the state budget.
The Head of BKN’s Public Relations Bureau, Mohamad Ridwan, explained that his party had not received further direction from the President regarding the efficiency. However, he stressed that the BKN as the management of personnel management in Indonesia nationally, strongly agreed and supported if there were efforts to increase the effectiveness and efficiency of the bureaucracy.
He also assessed, the most visible thing is the financial impact with the efficiency of structural officials will be able to reduce structural benefits, although not much but still has an impact.
If seen from the facts above, the reality is that the Indonesian bureaucracy must be renewed. Not only will it improve performance, but it can also have an impact on the country’s financial budget. Thus, expenditure items considered unimportant can be eliminated. Let’s support the reduction of the bureaucracy in order to support the improvement of Indonesia’s prosperity that is competitive and a healthier government system.
)* The author is a social political observer