Jakarta, IO – Thank God, we can still find a minister who has not joined the political craze. He remains focused on his main job: completing the digitalization in the bureaucracy.
You might already know him: Abdullah Azwar Anas, the Minister for Administrative and Bureaucratic Reform.
I was shocked when I heard this: The Indonesian Government has 27,000 applications, from the center to the regions, from ministries to agencies.
At a glance, the figure showcases the zeal of our officials in providing digital-based services to the people.
On the other hand, imagine how confused the people will be, sifting through the jungle of 27,000 applications, just to find the digital access they need.
“We must merge them all in GovTech,” said Abdullah Azwar Anas. Oops. Can you imagine how complicated it is to combine so many digital services? It might even be seen as killing sectoral or regional initiatives. However, the decision has been made.
President Jokowi is determined that Indonesia must enter the GovTech stage. This signifies making a “three-level jump” from analog government to e-government to digital government, and lastly, to GovTech.
This burden is all on Anas’ shoulders. Estonia and England are the paragons, so we do not need to learn from scratch. There is also no need for local officials to march to Estonia – under the pretext of “comparative studies”.
Anas realizes that the power of an Administrative and Bureaucratic Reform Minister will not be able to overturn the 27,000 applications, not to mention that there must be many interests lying behind the 27,000, such as consultants, experts and IT expenditures. The price tag is predicted to be around IDR 3 trillion.
Anas needs powerful figures. General Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan and Minister of State Secretary Pratikno entered the scene. That is why meetings to discuss the progress of GovTech are often held at the office of the Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries or Luhut’s office.
“Those who seem to be hindering the progress of the integration stage are immediately reprimanded, with a threat of dismissal,” said Anas.
I personally have been looking for high-ranking officials who are still keen on doing their job amid the presidential election frenzy. I found one, Abdullah Azwar Anas, whose achievements during his two-term tenure as former Regent of Banyuwangi were truly remarkable.
Anas is one of the regional heads of the PDIP party, of whom Megawati Soekarnoputri is very proud. Another one is the two-term Mayor of Surabaya, Mrs. Risma.
After completing his work as Banyuwangi Regent, Anas also expended his best efforts into his next position as the Head of LKPP (the National Public Procurement Agency).
Anas integrated e-catalogs for procurement of goods and services in various government agencies. Now, e-catalog has become one of the achievements of Jokowi’s administration.
When the late Administrative and Bureaucratic Reform Minister Tjahjo Kumolo passed, Anas filled the “quota” for PDIP in the cabinet on September 7, 2022. It means that his work as a minister is just over one year and five months. He still has only eight months left. “I don’t think it can be competed (during my term). However, the stages are clear and ongoing,” he said.
When I met Anas, I imagined how difficult his political position would be; he was caught in a feud between Jokowi and Megawati.
Unexpectedly, Anas refused to talk about politics. He does not want any disruptions in his progress towards GovTech.
One goal that we want to accelerate is the digitization of the Indonesian Identity Card (KTP). “Only 7 million people have applied for digital KTP,” he said.
I could only smile because my KTP is not yet digital, just like yours.
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His other focus is the integration in health services, because this sector also has thousands of applications, and in the management of civil servants’ careers, which also has the same problem.
“Currently, there are 27 stages, but later, there will be only three,” explained Anas. Therefore, public officials will not only prioritize themselves, but they will focus on work, work and work.
This is increasingly rare at a time when politics, politics and politics are influencing almost everyone.