inp.polri.go.id - Jakarta. Home Affairs Minister Muhammad Tito Karnavian reminded regional heads to maintain integrity and efficiency in governance to maintain public trust.

He emphasized that corrupt practices and budget inefficiency are two major factors damaging the image of regional governments.

"We call for regional heads to be very careful, especially regarding corruption and inefficiency," warned Tito on Wednesday (4/22/2026).

He explained that public perception is heavily influenced by media coverage, particularly when sting operations by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) or budget waste cases occur. The impact is not limited to individuals but can extend to the entire government.

He believes this situation has the potential to undermine trust between regional and central governments, impacting the smooth flow of budget submissions such as the General Allocation Fund (DAU), Special Allocation Fund (DAK), and Regional Revenue Sharing Fund (DBH).

Nevertheless, Tito commended the performance of many regional heads who are considered to have worked well and innovatively. However, these achievements are often overshadowed by negative news that spreads more quickly. Therefore, he encouraged regional heads to strengthen public communication and build a positive narrative.

"So, this is a matter of perception and image. Besides improving ourselves, of course, we need to be really careful about corrupt practices," said Tito.

He emphasized that strengthening governance and transparency are key to maintaining harmonious relations between the central and regional governments.

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