Rarely does this kind of exchange of opinions occur. The Inauguration of the Executive Board of the Association of Indonesian Regency Governments (Apkasi) for the 2025-2030 Period, at the Grand Sahid Jaya Hotel, Central Jakarta, Thursday, July 17, 2025 was an interesting dialogue between the Chairperson of Apkasi, Bursah Sarnubi and the Minister of Home Affairs Tito Karnavian.
When delivering a speech after his inauguration, Bursah highlighted the authority of regional heads who sometimes have to collide with central regulations. "There are requirements such as Pertek (technical regulations) that must be requested to the center, but that can hamper decisions in the regions," said Bursah.
Minister Tito was then asked to give a speech. The former National Police Chief also emphasized that regional heads, especially regents, should not seek profit from managing money in the regions. "Law enforcers already know the modes of corruption in the regions," said Tito.
Therefore, Tito also encouraged regional heads to find legal budget sources that could later be used for the welfare of the regional heads themselves. "We need to formulate it together, we need to make an event like a workshop, I am ready to dialogue," he said.
Back to Village Economy
Many issues were dialogued, even while throwing statements on stage that day. Although the resolution of many issues could not be agreed upon that day, this is a positive signal of the dialog that needs to be built by the local government with the central government.
"We are ready to be given the authority to be able to succeed the central government program within the framework of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia," said Bursah.
As an activist, Bursah does have a long track record in government. Both as a legislator, and now as an executive. And now, after becoming a regent in Lahat, South Sumatra, Bursah has a noble mission to strengthen rural communities, both economically and socially.
"Since I became an activist, the existence of rural inequality is due to the government's failure to formulate national policies," he said.
For Bursah, the growth of rural areas is like the heart of the national economy that must always be maintained. However, on the other hand, national policies are not fully in favor of improving rural governance.
So, when he was appointed as the number one person in Lahat in February 2025, Bursah stepped on the gas to develop the village. First, he built water circulation for rice fields through integrated irrigation.
First, Pagar Jati Village in South Kikim Sub-district had its irrigation system built. The irrigation project irrigates 1,200-1,300 hectares of rice fields, and is designed to last for the next 50-100 years. All of this was built from APBD funds of approximately Rp 130 billion.
Development in the regions will be quite difficult if it is too dependent on policies and budgets from the center.
For Bursah, development in the regions will be quite difficult if it is too dependent on central policies and budgets. Meanwhile, irrigation development is urgent to build a potential ecosystem for rice fields.
Especially now, the Prabowo Subianto administration wants to target food self-sufficiency. "For rice self-sufficiency, it is also important to build irrigation," said the Chairman of the Association of Indonesian Regency Governments (Apkasi).
Marginalizing the Mining Sector
Bursah chose to improve agricultural areas not without calculation. Talking about the potential of rice fields in Lahat, BPS 2024 data exposes that agriculture is the second largest contributor to GRDP after mining and quarrying.
He also realized the potential of plantations through a number of commodities ranging from coffee, cocoa, palm oil to rubber.
Although the mining and quarrying sector plays an important role in Lahat's economy, Bursah has always believed that coal mining has fewer benefits. Therefore, villages are now developing their infrastructure in order to become the backbone of the economy.
Irrigation of rice fields to maximize the production process will be expanded at four points spread across four sub-districts.
Most recently, Bursah is also working on the coffee commodity from Lahat so that it can go global. He understands very well that Lahat's original coffee is high in quantity and tastes good. Like the famous gayo coffee from Aceh, Lahat coffee will go public, even projected to go international.
The utilization of this commodity, if referring to BPS data, is also quite promising as the amount of production is stable at 20 thousand tons per year.
Bursah is also working on the potential of fisheries. He is currently testing building a fisheries business ecosystem. At least 500,000 fish seeds are allocated in a number of fish ponds located in the community's economic centers. According to BPS data again, the fisheries sector is also among the top sectors in building Lahat's economy.
UMKM Go Upmarket
Still about building villages, Bursah also targets UMKM players to improve their economic class. He still remembers helping woven bag crafters to boost their production power.
One time when Bursah met with artisans, they complained about the difficulty of increasing production due to outdated machinery. Submissions to the government had previously been made, but to no avail. Eventually, Bursah bought a brand-new production machine.
Bursah warned that so far UMKM players do not easily get access to capital. Not to mention the empowerment that is also rarely obtained. He joked that UMKM are not difficult to grow because there is no progressive policy, but it is difficult to advance because of the selection of micro diction that makes business development so-so.
"I don't want to call them UMKM, but economic business units. I will foster UMKM in my era, not kill them," said Bursah.
At the beginning of Prabowo's administration, the direction of developing villages had already begun. The food self-sufficiency policy was a trigger for the involvement of villages that have natural resources compared to cities.
It's just that Bursah has not seen the harmonization of central and regional relations. In fact, regional heads should be held to succeed central policies. "Yes, that's why Mr. Prabowo needs people like us, Apkasi. Because (we) can support the central program," he said.
Bursah has not seen the harmonization of central and regional relations. In fact, regional heads should be held to succeed central policies.
For Bursah, rebuilding villages is not just about increasing local revenue. But more than that, it is about returning the village as the center of civilization.
"Because we rely too much on manufacturing. So the villages are left behind. Urbanization occurs because villagers are looking for work. A strong village must grow its economy, develop its workforce," he said.
