What are the Regional Heads' Agendas During the Seven-Day Retreat in Magelang?

JAKARTA, KOMPAS - The retreat of regional heads and deputy heads in Magelang will be filled with briefings by ministers and heads of institutions. In addition, strengthening emotional ties is considered the most important thing in this event.

A total of 505 regional heads from the 2024 Regional Head Elections or Pilkada will depart for Magelang, Friday (21/2/2024). They will attend a seven-day retreat at the Borobudur International Golf and Country Club in the Military Academy area, Lembah Tidar, Magelang. The event is planned to be attended by President Prabowo Subianto who will provide direction. However, the schedule for his arrival has not been confirmed.

"The President said he would come anytime, maybe at the beginning of the retreat, in the middle of the retreat, or at the end of the retreat. We will adjust to his schedule," said Deputy Minister of Home Affairs Bima Arya Sugiarto who also just met President Prabowo in Hambalang, Friday (2/14/2025) afternoon.

In general, according to Bima, this regional head retreat is a very dense provision for the newly inaugurated regional heads. Because, usually the Ministry of Home Affairs holds training for two weeks. In addition, the National Resilience Institute (Lemhannas) also holds a consolidation of prospective leaders for about one month. Now, everything must be delivered in seven days.

Therefore, the speakers in this retreat include ministers of the Red and White Cabinet, Lemhanas teachers, as well as from the KPK, BPK, BPKP, Polri, and TNI. "Not all ministers can provide material," he said.

This briefing aims to synchronize the vision and mission of regional heads with Asta Cita carried by President Prabowo Subianto. Thus, development in the regions can be in line with the direction of national development through the eight priority programs of Asta Cita.

The retreat will also equip regional heads from various backgrounds with an understanding of the main tasks and functions (tupoksi) of government.

One of the important goals of the retreat, according to Bima, is to build relationships or strengthen emotional bonds between all regional heads. This emotional bond is considered important because coordination will be needed not only between regional heads and ministers, but also between regional heads.

Bima gave an example, good relations between regions are useful in overcoming excess production or the need for certain commodities. This is useful when regional heads have to control inflation.

"This emotional bonding cannot be obtained only through (meetings via) zoom. So (the retreat) is not only a substantive provision, but also building emotional bonding," he said.

He said that the four-day Red and White Cabinet retreat was very useful for forming emotional bonds among all cabinet members. When you don't know each other, it will be difficult to coordinate and work together in government.

"Companies have team building, let alone to manage cities, districts, provinces, and countries. The spirit of mutual cooperation and synergy is very necessary. Because, nothing can be solved alone," he said.

Other material that will also be presented at the regional head retreat is about budget management.

Indonesia's 2025 State Budget reaches IDR 3,600 trillion with IDR 1,300 trillion of it going to local governments. Therefore, budget management with good governance principles is important. Speakers consisting of the KPK Chairman, BPK Chairman, BPKP Head, Police Chief, and Attorney General will be present.

"This is important to oversee the execution and implementation of thousands of trillions of people's money," added Bima.

Moreover, the budget efficiency initiated by President Prabowo Subianto also targets regional government budgets. In his instructions, the President requested budget cuts of Rp306.69 trillion. This amount consists of ministry/institution spending efficiency of Rp256.1 trillion and transfers to regions of Rp50.59 trillion.

This spending restriction is requested to eliminate ceremonial agendas, reduce unnecessary official travel, studies and comparative studies, as well as printing and publication.

Regional heads, according to Bima, need to understand the President's message regarding budget efficiency.

"The President's message is clear, efficiency to cut unreasonable budgets (activities) and not cut honorariums (of employees or activities) that are needed. Don't misinterpret," he said.

He said that the wrong perception made the budget cut execution inappropriate. When the President asked for the infrastructure budget to be cut, then the waste in development that was cut, did not mean that the infrastructure needed was not built.

"So efficiency is not cutting (the budget) for basic services. This also needs to be understood by friends in the regions," he added.

Despite receiving training, regional heads can have a dialogue with ministers at the regional head retreat. Regional perspectives, Bima continued, also need to be heard by the central government. Thus, everything will fit.

Professor of the Institute of Home Affairs Djohermansyah Djohan assessed that the seven-day retreat was too short. Because, the heads and deputy heads of regions who come from various backgrounds must truly understand the duties as heads and deputy heads of regions.

Therefore, the Ministry of Home Affairs usually holds two-week training in stages. Each batch consists of 40 heads and deputy heads of regions.

"So it provides more knowledge about leadership and managerial knowledge, skills and technical. So it's not like army training. There are exercises but only in the morning," said Djohermansyah, who also served as Director General of Regional Autonomy at the Ministry of Home Affairs, Friday.

Technically, the regional heads and deputy heads will be inaugurated by President Prabowo on Thursday (20/2/2025). The next day, Friday (21/2/2025), all regional heads must gather in Magelang.

For that, Bima added, the inauguration of the regional heads and deputy heads at the Palace will be held simply and will not take long. Thus, the regional heads have the opportunity to prepare to leave for Magelang.

All regional heads may depart by any mode of transportation. However, Friday (21/2/2025) afternoon must have gathered in Magelang.