Heaptalk, Jakarta — Meritocracy is a cornerstone of civil servant (ASN) management and essential for fostering a professional and competitive bureaucracy. Rini Widyantini, the Minister of State Apparatus Empowerment and Bureaucratic Reform (PANRB), delivered this emphasis during the 2024 Evaluation Results Presentation on the Implementation of the Merit System in Government Agencies, held in Jakarta on Thursday (19/12).
“The merit system is not merely an agenda but a fundamental principle in ASN transformation. Its implementation significantly impacts economic growth, corruption eradication, and ASN performance enhancement,” stated Minister Rini.
She underscored that the meritocracy principle aligns with President Prabowo’s eight directives for bureaucratic reform, particularly in ASN management.
“The President consistently emphasizes that bureaucracy must operate with integrity. The merit system is one of the tools to build a clean and accountable bureaucracy. He often highlights that each civil servant must perform optimally and continuously enhance their competencies,” she added.
Minister Rini elaborated that one key goal of the National Bureaucratic Reform Grand Design (GDRBN) for 2025–2045 is to create competent, high-performing civil servants through the merit system.
“Meritocracy ensures transparency and accountability in ASN recruitment and promotion processes. It supports effective governance by ensuring that individuals in strategic positions possess the appropriate qualifications and competencies,” she explained.
The Ministry of PANRB has taken strategic steps to strengthen the merit system, including refining ASN management policies, integrating merit system oversight into the government administration portal, and providing feedback to improve ASN governance.
“While the implementation of the merit system has improved, its adoption remains concentrated in Java and major cities. We must work harder to ensure the equitable application of meritocracy across all regions of Indonesia,” emphasized Minister Rini.
She expressed hope that government agencies that implement the merit system consistently and achieve the “Excellent” and “Good” categories will inspire others to do the same.
“Congratulations to the government agencies that have enhanced their merit system implementation quality. This achievement reflects collective efforts benefiting the institutions and the wider community,” she concluded.
During the event, the Ministry of PANRB was also recognized with an “Excellent” rating for the 2024 Evaluation Results on Merit System Implementation.