Depok, 25 November 2025 — Plenary Session I: 4th Session of the Symposium – Institutions, Bureaucracy, and Public Services, held as part of the Symposium of 25 Years of Decentralization, emphasized that bureaucratic reform must be pursued in a sustainable and consistent manner to support the vision of Indonesia Emas 2045. The session featured three speakers: Drs. Agus Uji Hantara, M.E. (Assistant Deputy for Policy Formulation and Coordination of Bureaucratic Reform Implementation); Yanuar Nugroho, Ph.D. (Driyarkara School of Philosophy, Jakarta); and Dr. H. Anton Sunarwibowo, ST., MT. (Head of the Regional Development Planning, Research, and Innovation Agency of Bandung City).

In his presentation, Agus Uji Hantara stated that bureaucratic reform has entered its third phase and is now directed toward achieving national governance standards with a focus on clear performance indicators. The Bureaucratic Reform Index currently covers 25 governance aspects and serves as a national measurement tool to ensure that ministries, agencies, and local governments operate in accordance with accountability principles. He added that the preparation of the Long-Term Grand Design of Bureaucratic Reform is nearing completion through a Presidential Regulation, accompanied by a five-year roadmap. The integration of national and international indicators, along with government digitalization, has become a key driver of reform. To strengthen implementation, the government is providing incentives by increasing the weight of bureaucratic reform evaluation in determining regional performance allowances from 2% to 30% in 2026.

Meanwhile, Yanuar Nugroho emphasized the importance of institutionalizing evidence-based decision-making at the local level as a foundation for improving public policy quality. According to him, without interoperable data, competent policy analysts, and a collaborative ecosystem, planning will remain merely a formal document without tangible outcomes. He viewed Regional Research and Innovation Agencies (BRIDA) as highly strategic hubs within a triple helix model connecting government, academia, and the business sector. Cross-functional war room practices previously implemented at the Presidential Staff Office were cited as concrete examples of data-driven policy acceleration that could be replicated by local governments. Yanuar also highlighted that improvements in basic services over 25 years of decentralization have not been matched by strengthened local institutions and accountability, which continue to face challenges such as politically driven job rotations, capacity disparities, and corruption among regional leaders.

From a local government perspective, Anton Sunarwibowo shared Bandung City’s experience in implementing a five-year development plan aligned with the national bureaucratic reform agenda. Bandung City has achieved an “A” rating in the bureaucratic reform index, yet it still faces complex challenges, particularly flooding, traffic congestion, and waste management. Climate change, metropolitan commuting patterns, and limited fiscal authority further exacerbate these challenges. He stressed that data-driven innovation and cross-stakeholder collaboration are key to addressing urban issues. Waste management was identified as the most urgent problem, as landfill disposal quotas have declined significantly. This condition has forced the city government to shift its paradigm from “collect–transport–dispose” to “collect–separate–utilize.” However, the implementation of this new strategy continues to face regulatory obstacles and public resistance.

All speakers agreed that accountability and integrity must be continuously strengthened to ensure the effectiveness of bureaucratic reform. Many regulations were considered easily violated and frequently replaced without proper evaluation, undermining governance and threatening development effectiveness. To address policy overlap, the government is currently developing a regulatory quality index to ensure stronger inter-agency synchronization. In addition, all parties encouraged long-term capacity building through applied public policy education. A minimum one-semester internship program for public policy students was deemed essential to help future policymakers understand bureaucratic realities and the decision-making process.

The discussion concluded with the affirmation that collaboration and consistency are the main prerequisites for successful bureaucratic reform. A firm commitment to strengthening a work culture based on performance, data, transparency, and sustainability is believed to accelerate the transformation of public services and ensure that bureaucracy becomes a driving force for development toward Indonesia Emas 2045.