Retreat II Strengthens Harmony Between Regional Heads and Their Deputies
By: Saifuddin Yusuf)
The Ministry of Home Affairs held the second wave of the Regional Head Retreat on June 22–26, 2025, at the campus of the Institute of Public Administration (IPDN) in Jatinangor, West Java. This event followed the first wave, with a main focus on strengthening synergy between regional heads and their deputies in governing effectively. Unlike the previous retreat, this session specifically involved regional deputy heads from day one as part of efforts to align regional leadership for greater unity and effectiveness in supporting national programs.
The Ministry of Home Affairs has paid serious attention to the dynamics between regional heads and their deputies. Based on various evaluations and reports, not all leadership pairs have succeeded in establishing optimal collaboration. Some face communication barriers, differences in vision, or even personal tensions that affect the effectiveness of governance.
The full involvement of deputy regional heads from the outset was designed as a form of positive intervention. Deputy Minister of Home Affairs Bima Arya Sugiarto emphasized that moments like these are important as spaces for dialogue, reconciliation, and alignment among regional leaders. The retreat serves not only as a forum for conveying technical governance material but also as a platform to foster a shared understanding of values such as public service, integrity, and responsibility. By bringing together regional heads and deputies in a non-formal yet intensive setting, it is hoped they can untangle strained relationships and build a stronger foundation for cooperation.
IPDN Jatinangor was chosen as the location not without reason. The campus holds strong symbolic meaning in terms of public service and the spirit of dedication. With its diverse student body drawn from all corners of the archipelago, IPDN represents values of unity, pluralism, and loyalty to the ideals of the nation. Placing regional leaders in such an environment provides space for reflection, while also serving as a reminder that their primary role is to serve the people, not to wield power. The presence of regional heads at IPDN is not only symbolic but also substantive in reinforcing public service values as the foundation of regional leadership.
A total of 86 regional heads and deputy heads participated in this second wave. They came from diverse geographical and socio-political backgrounds, yet were united by a shared goal: to strengthen synergy and accelerate the realization of national programs at the local level. The joint participation of both leaders from the beginning of the event reflects the Ministry’s commitment to creating a space for equal and inclusive interaction. By attending sessions together, participants are able to receive the same content without disparities in role or information. This is crucial to ensure that central government policies are not perceived merely as top-down orders, but as outcomes of shared understanding and collective support from regional leaders.
The retreat addressed strategic themes such as anti-corruption efforts, strengthening national insight, understanding the Asta Cita (eight goals), and enhancing clean, responsive governance. This shows that the central government is not merely issuing technical instructions, but also instilling values of integrity, nationalism, and pro-people orientation. The key message is that regional heads do not operate in isolation. They are part of a greater orchestration that must play in harmony to achieve just and inclusive national development.
The retreat also served as a forum for aligning the perspectives of regional heads with the major programs of President Prabowo Subianto’s administration. By understanding the overarching vision of the central government, local leaders will be able to design and implement their own work programs on a shared foundation. This approach is vital to ensure that national development is not fragmented, but mutually reinforcing between central and regional levels. In Indonesia’s decentralized system, vertical and horizontal harmonization is key to development success.
The government has demonstrated its seriousness in fostering a model of leadership that is collective, inclusive, and solid. The regional head retreat is not just about knowledge transfer, but also about shaping responsible leadership character. The joint presence of regional heads and their deputies affirms that there is no room for sectoral ego in governance. Each local leader must function as part of a team, complementing each other and sharing responsibilities.
This event also reinforces the notion that harmony between regional heads and their deputies is not something to merely hope for, but something that must be deliberately designed, nurtured, and sustained. The retreat is one of several positive interventions by the central government to ensure that governance is effective and responsive to the needs of the people. In today’s complex administrative landscape, the ability to work in synergy is one of the critical keys to success. In this light, the second wave of the regional head retreat deserves recognition as a concrete manifestation of the government’s commitment to strengthening a solid and harmonious foundation for local leadership.
*) Political Analyst