Constitutional law expert Mahfud MD highlighted crucial challenges in Indonesia's current governance. He assessed that an unhealthy political configuration has become the main root of the problem, which then has a direct impact on the erosion of the principle of professionalism in various public sectors.
During his visit to Surabaya on Monday (27/4/2026), Mahfud explained that many strategic decisions that should have been made based on professional considerations were instead dominantly influenced by political interests. This condition has caused the implementation of the merit system—a system that prioritizes competence and qualifications—to be suboptimal in the government bureaucracy.
Furthermore, Mahfud revealed that the career path of civil servants is often hindered by interventions from political officials. This creates obstacles for professionals to develop and demonstrate their work performance objectively without having to rely on specific political support.
To overcome this deadlock, Mahfud emphasized the importance of building a healthier political ecosystem as a prerequisite for improving national governance. According to him, this is closely related to strengthening democracy through the consistent enforcement of the constitution with high integrity.
Nevertheless, Mahfud remains optimistic about the future of Indonesian governance. He believes that the nation has the resilience and ability to find solutions to the dynamics of similar problems that often arise, although the challenges faced often change form from time to time.
