"Do not flaunt extravagance because it's not the time for that. After all, there is no point in doing so because you are already dignified and respected due to your positions. Thus, you don't have to seek respect through extravagance," he told bureaucrats.
In a statement cited here on Tuesday, he cautioned regional government leaders against behaving insensitively toward the public, stressing that such gestures could lead to social unrest and undermine order.
Local leaders should exercise prudence in their actions and communication to maintain public trust, he added.
The minister also urged regional leaders to stay responsive to social and security issues that may threaten public order, noting that unrest often stems from abuse of power and arrogance among officials.
Furthermore, he called on regional heads and officials at the Ministry of Home Affairs to avoid hosting lavish events or activities that might be perceived as wasteful by the public.
"It would be better to organize modest activities, especially those that directly benefit common people. For instance, you can provide aid to orphans, renovate homes for the underprivileged, or distribute staple goods as assistance," Karnavian elaborated.
The minister's call for modesty received support from Yoga Putra Prameswari, a political analyst from Diponegoro University. He described the call as a reasonable response to recent cases in which local leaders faced public backlash over their policies or conduct.
"Home Affairs Minister's directive against wealth flexing is an important wake-up call for regional leaders to be more sensitive to the economic conditions of their constituents," he pointed out.
The analyst observed that arrogant behavior is often found among new leaders with no prior experience in regional administration, noting their tendency to flaunt wealth to assert influence and authority.
"This phenomenon is a cultural problem that has long affected Indonesian officials. Thus, the minister's call is expected to prevent local leaders from falling into this pattern," he stated.
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Translator: Fianda S, Tegar Nurfitra
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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