Bureaucratic Overhaul in NTT, Two Laiskodat Relatives Replaced

Newly appointed or confirmed officials should focus on working to serve the community. Don't like to look for sensations.

HUMAS PEMPROV NTT

Acting Governor of East Nusa Tenggara Ayodhia Kalake inaugurated several officials at the NTT Governor's Office in Kupang City on Wednesday (27/3/2024).

Acting Governor of East Nusa Tenggara, Ayodhia Kalake, for the first time since leading the region in September 2023, has reshuffled the bureaucratic structure. The reshuffle was marked by the inauguration and appointment of 29 officials.

The inauguration, which took place at the Governor's office in Kupang City on Wednesday (27/3/2024), has long been awaited by the public. Many circles seem impatient for a new atmosphere in the government environment that was previously held by Viktor Bungtilu Laiskodat (Governor of NTT 2018-2023).

Those who were replaced include Henderina S Laiskodat from the position of Head of the NTT Regional Personnel Agency. She was replaced by Yosef Rasi who previously served as Head of the NTT Social Service Agency. There is also Ruth Diana Laiskodat, whose position as Head of the NTT Health, Population, and Civil Registry Agency was replaced by Lien Adriany.

Henderina and Ruth are close family members of Viktor. Both of them held strategic positions during Viktor's tenure. Claims stating that they are no longer leading departments or agencies are unfounded. They just changed positions. Henderina became the Head of the Human Resources Development Agency of NTT, while Ruth became the Head of the Women's Empowerment, Child Protection, Population Control, and Family Planning Agency of NTT.

Another official who was replaced is the Head of the Education and Culture Agency in NTT, Linus Lusi. The position is now filled by Ambrosius Kodo, who previously served as the Implementation Head of the NTT Regional Disaster Management Agency. Linus has been shifted to become the Governor's Economic and Development Expert Staff.

Also read: Viktor Laiskodat's Defeat in the NTT Election

KOMPAS/FRANSISKUS PATI HERIN

The morning roll call at SMAN 1 in Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara, Wednesday (1/3/2023) was attended by only 19 out of 496 students who arrived on time. The Provincial Government of NTT implemented a learning schedule starting from 05.30.

Linus previously became the public's attention for executing the policy of starting school at 05.00 for several high schools in the city of Kupang. The high school level is under the control of the provincial government. Despite strong protests from the public, Linus insisted on implementing the policy.

In a hearing with the NTT Regional House of Representatives Commission V, for example, Linus ignored suggestions to temporarily stop the policy for review. "We will continue," said Linus at the time. Yunus Takandewa, the Chairperson of Commission V, felt that he was not respected by Linus, who was his colleague.

The controversial policy in March 2023 was stopped by Ayodhia when leading NTT. Ayodhia listened to the public aspirations that rejected the policy. On the other hand, the policy was contrary to school start times throughout Indonesia. What NTT did was considered sensational.

Many problems

In his speech during the inauguration and appointment ceremony, Ayodhia emphasized that second-level officials should be creative, professional, innovative, and have integrity. "Build a collaborative spirit in both internal and external contexts, with other regional devices, districts and cities, ministries and institutions, the central government, as well as other working partners," said Ayodhia in his message.

HUMAS PEMPROV NTT

Acting Governor of East Nusa Tenggara Ayodhia Kalake

He also urges officials, whether they are moving positions or being confirmed in the same position, to see it as something positive. Every position must be interpreted as a field of dedication and service to the nation and state. They are all asked to work optimally.

The inauguration and appointment of officials occurred amidst many problems afflicting the region. Almost all areas in East Nusa Tenggara have experienced crop failure due to low rainfall. Food prices are out of control, with medium-quality rice reaching Rp 18,000 per kilogram. Communities who have become dependent on rice are trying to obtain it, including through borrowing.

Farmers, especially pig farmers, are also screaming due to the African swine fever virus that has yet to disappear. Farmers suffer significant losses, causing many to no longer want to farm. "This year has been very difficult. The plantations have no yield and all the livestock died," said Yacob Kase (50), a resident of Nekamese, in Kupang Regency.

Other data shows that poverty in NTT is still high. In urban areas, it even increased from 8.84 percent in March 2022 to 9.12 percent in March 2023. Meanwhile, poverty in rural areas only decreased slightly from 23.86 percent to 23.76 percent. The poverty line in NTT is Rp 507,203 per capita per month. This poverty line is based on expenditure approach.

KOMPAS/FRANSISKUS PATI HERIN

The residential settlements in the interior of Timor Island, precisely in Haekto Village, East Noemuti District, North Central Timor Regency, East Nusa Tenggara, on Thursday (24/3/2022). Most residents in the area live below the poverty line.

Political Science lecturer at the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, Catholic University of Widya Mandira in Kupang, Eusabius Separera Niron, believes that the mutation of officials is a normal process for the sake of refreshing the bureaucracy's body. According to him, the Acting Governor has been monitoring the performance and track record of the officials under his leadership.

Niron hopes that the current composition can work faster. Besides food and poverty issues, there are still many other problems, such as human trafficking, environmental damage, and elite corruption.

Now the public is awaiting the bureaucratic machinery to move development optimally. It must work with measurable targets so that each problem can be solved one by one. Focus on achieving accomplishments, not seeking sensationalism.

Also read: School at 05.00, Obsession Feels Sensation