JAKARTA, RAKYAT NEWS – The Ombudsman of the Republic of Indonesia (Ombudsman RI) participated in the Southeast Asian Ombudsman Forum (SEAOF) 2024 in Jakarta to discuss a proposed comparative study of public administration practices across Southeast Asia. This forum, held on Tuesday, November 12, is aimed at enhancing regional cooperation among ombudsman institutions and strengthening public service reforms.

Ombudsman RI Chairman Mokhammad Najih emphasized that the comparative study was initiated by the Philippine Ombudsman, following up on discussions during the SEAOF Meeting in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, in 2023. The study aims to share valuable information and knowledge about the different approaches to handling public complaints and preventing maladministration in the region.

Najih highlighted that this comparative study would allow participating countries to learn from each other’s experiences, especially in addressing citizen grievances through informal resolution mechanisms and developing strategies to prevent maladministration. These insights are expected to benefit not only the ombudsman institutions but also the broader public administration systems in each country.

In his remarks, Najih also underscored the Ombudsman’s role in supporting bureaucratic reform in Indonesia. He stated that the Ombudsman’s primary duty is to ensure that the bureaucracy delivers fair, dignified, and transparent services without maladministration, ultimately benefiting the public. He noted that SEAOF plays a key role in strengthening this mission through international collaboration.

The SEAOF meeting, which began in 2020, provides a platform for ombudsman institutions from Southeast Asia to collaborate and share best practices. Through this cooperation, the Ombudsman RI aims to enhance its internal capacity and contribute to broader governance improvements in Indonesia, aligning with the country’s vision for achieving “Indonesia Emas 2045” (Golden Indonesia 2045).