Jakarta, December 22, 2025 – The Europe Today: Secretary General of the Ministry of Home Affairs, Tomsi Tohir, has emphasized the importance of comprehensive urban governance planning as a key factor in supporting sustainable development across Indonesian cities.
Speaking at the 2025 Outlook of the Association of Indonesian City Governments (APEKSI) in Bandar Lampung, Lampung, on Saturday, Tohir highlighted the need to develop city planning frameworks, regional regulations, and supporting rules tailored to the unique characteristics of each urban area.
“Our ability to plan cities is essential. Regional governments must establish a solid planning foundation to ensure the well-being of communities over the next 30 to 40 years,” he stated, adding that planning should extend beyond a single leadership term to effectively address long-term urban challenges.
Tohir also stressed the Ministry’s continued focus on improving urban waste management. He noted that various research efforts and collaboration with stakeholders are underway to develop solutions that benefit the public, including waste-to-energy initiatives.
Highlighting the impact of rapid population growth in urban areas, he warned that inadequate consideration of this factor by leaders often results in policies unable to meet public needs. He urged regional governments to adopt anticipatory and well-planned strategies to address emerging urban challenges.
The Secretary General also outlined opportunities to promote urban development and local economic growth through central government programs. Initiatives such as the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) program can stimulate local economies by meeting food supply demands, while the tuition-free Sekolah Rakyat (People’s School) program and the Free Health Screening (CKG) program aim to improve the quality of human resources in the regions.
Tohir concluded that a forward-looking and integrated approach to urban governance is essential to ensure sustainable, inclusive, and resilient cities for the future.
