"At the initial stage it will be done at central levels, and we hope it will spread to regional levels," he announced after attending a discussion on bureaucratic reform here on Wednesday.
The deputy minister remarked that a team comprising members from the academic field and state administration experts had been set up to prepare the reform plans.
"An analysis would be needed before reform efforts are to be done. We cannot just wipe them out," he added.
According to Eko, restructuring of the state apparatus is necessary to implement real reforms, while the bureaucratic reform programmes conducted so far have only touched on outward matters relating to the public.
"Meanwhile, the core issue is reform from the inside. With the restructuring, we will conduct a real reform," he affirmed.
Eko admitted the possibility of encountering challenges and obstacles because the reforms would affect the comfort zones of many parties.
"Eradicating positions would certainly cause resistance, as it would affect the comfort zones of many parties or worse, cut the lifelines of certain people," he remarked.
Therefore, he emphasized the need to conduct a thorough analysis and the necessary preparations to see which structures and functions need to be cut or streamlined because of their ineffectiveness.
Regarding the government`s programme to accelerate bureaucratic reform, Eko said that public support is the key to its success.
"Public support is important to act as a public pressure," he explained.
In this regard, the Ministry of Administrative Reform held a focus group discussion on involving mass media and civilian organizations in bureaucratic reform acceleration. Azwar Abubakar, the Minister of Administrative Reform, also attended this discussion.
The discussion was aimed at exchanging views with media and civilian organizations regarding the acceleration of bureaucratic reform in the country. (*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2012
