Executive Director of the Center for Regional Research and Information (PATTIRO), Maya Rostanty emphasized that in order to advance the Indonesian state administration which wants to become a modern democratic country in the Asia Pacific economic era, the merit system is absolutely implemented by the government.
“Because of the merit system, we will get qualified official candidates who are able to provide better services to society,” he said.
This is because the merit system opens up space for all State Civil Apparatus (ASN) to take part in selection for promotion, no longer just being the property of a few people, “In the old system, the career system was mandated by Law 8/1974 or Law 43/1999 “The opportunities given are limited by age or information, not to those who are truly competent,” explained Maya. Apart from that, the merit system is not limited to the selection process, but also performance improvement and evaluation. “This means that ASN will indeed be encouraged to develop according to the times and their needs, if their performance is not satisfactory they can be replaced,” he added.
Regarding the operation of the merit system itself, PATTIRO Program Manager, Wawanudin, said that the guardian of implementation must be a person/institution that is independent from policy makers or policy implementers, namely the State Civil Apparatus Commission (KASN).
“KASN is an independent institution, in an equal position because it is directly under the president, and is not mixed up.” Wawan said.
Therefore, the proposal to abolish KASN through the revision of the ASN Law and then delegate its authority again to the Ministry of Administrative and Bureaucratic Reform is very inappropriate, because there will be a conflict of interest, where the Ministry of Administrative and Bureaucratic Reform as an executive also holds the position of supervisor.
Reflecting on developed countries, especially America which already has a superior bureaucracy, the existence of something like KASN has actually been strengthened. The Civil Service Commission, which was founded in 1883 in America, was then reformed by President Jimmy Carter in 1978 by dividing it into two parts, namely the Office of Personal Management, like the State Civil Service Agency here, and the Merit System Protection Board whose authority is similar to KASN in Indonesia.
“The element of neutrality is very necessary in carrying out the supervisory function, supervision must be carried out by an institution that is independent, neutral, professional and free from political interference, and we hope that KASN can carry out the supervisory function wisely,” stressed Wawan.
Photo: Special
(AR)
