Indonesia Strengthens Legal Framework for 15 Kalimantan Regions with Local Government Law Revisions

The Indonesian government has approved 15 draft laws concerning regencies and cities in three Kalimantan provinces during a plenary session of the House of Representatives (DPR RI) on Tuesday (22/9). Minister of Home Affairs Muhammad Tito Karnavian expressed optimism that the approval would strengthen legal certainty in the implementation of regional governance. The regulatory update is deemed necessary to align the legal basis for the establishment of regions with the constitution and current territorial arrangement developments. Tito explained that the formulation of these 15 draft laws is part of updating the legal basis for regencies and cities, primarily to adjust their constitutional foundation with the 1945 Constitution. This is crucial because some regions still rely on legal bases referencing the 1949 Constitution of the United States of Indonesia (UUD RIS) or the 1950 Provisional Constitution (UUDS). The adjustment ensures that regions have clear legal grounds and serves as a foundation for all derivative regulations, including regional regulations. "To obtain legal certainty without polemics and simultaneously serve as a legal basis for all derivative regulations below, including regional regulations," Tito stated. Beyond updating the legal basis, the substance of the 15 draft laws has also been adjusted to reflect developments in territorial arrangements. This includes conditions after the formation of new autonomous regions (DOB) or regional expansions, as well as clarifying the status of regency capitals within a sub-district. The regulations also incorporate the characteristics of each region. According to Tito, including regional characteristics is a form of state recognition of regional diversity, emphasizing Indonesia's pluralistic nature—multicultural, multi-ethnic, multi-racial, and even multi-landscape—yet integrated within the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia under the motto "Bhinneka Tunggal Ika" (Unity in Diversity). The 15 draft laws adopt substance from 20 laws on provinces and 142 laws on regencies and cities that have been enacted between 2022 and 2025. This process is part of a regulatory update concerning regions involving the DPR RI and the government. The 15 regions covered by the draft laws include seven regencies in West Kalimantan Province: Kapuas Hulu, Sintang, Mempawah, Sambas, Sanggau, Ketapang, and Pontianak City. Five regions in Central Kalimantan Province are Kapuas, North Barito, South Barito, East Kotawaringin, and West Kotawaringin Regencies. Three regions in South Kalimantan Province are North Hulu Sungai, South Hulu Sungai, and Central Hulu Sungai Regencies. "The government believes that these 15 draft laws on regencies and cities, initiated by the DPR RI, will strengthen the implementation of regional governance, especially concerning the certainty of their legal basis," concluded the Minister of Home Affairs. Source: CNN Indonesia