Amid the current complexities of Indonesia’s constitutional issues, one topic that receives relatively little attention is the establishment of new autonomous regions. According to data from the Ministry of Home Affairs as of 1 June 2026, there are 375 proposals for the establishment of New Autonomous Regions (Daerah Otonom Baru/DOB) through territorial expansion, comprising 46 proposed provinces, 226 regencies, 41 municipalities, 7 special regions, and 5 special administrative regions. In response to this issue, students from the Master of Business and Constitutional Law Program, Faculty of Law, Universitas Gadjah Mada (FH UGM), who are members of the Master of Law Student Association (KMMH FH UGM), conducted a legal outreach program through an RRI PRO 2 Yogyakarta radio broadcast on Wednesday, 1 July 2026, at 12:00 PM (WIB).
The program featured an intergenerational academic collaboration between Prof. Dr. Purwo Santoso, M.A., Professor and Head of the Department of Politics and Government, Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, UGM, and Zacilasi Wasia, S.H., M.H. Moderated by RRI broadcaster Niken, the discussion explored the timely topic, “Shaping the Future of Regional Autonomy through Territorial Expansion.” The event was organized under the Legal Outreach Grant Program administered by the Center for Legal Consultation and Aid (PKBH) of FH UGM, through which Zacilasi Wasia and Maleakhi Samuel Pasalli sought to foster critical legal dialogue with tangible benefits for the wider public, including government institutions.
The program featured an intergenerational academic collaboration between Prof. Dr. Purwo Santoso, M.A., Professor and Head of the Department of Politics and Government, Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, UGM, and Zacilasi Wasia, S.H., M.H. Moderated by RRI broadcaster Niken, the discussion explored the timely topic, “Shaping the Future of Regional Autonomy through Territorial Expansion.” The event was organized under the Legal Outreach Grant Program administered by the Center for Legal Consultation and Aid (PKBH) of FH UGM, through which Zacilasi Wasia and Maleakhi Samuel Pasalli sought to foster critical legal dialogue with tangible benefits for the wider public, including government institutions.
Prof. Dr. Purwo Santoso emphasized that the success of newly established autonomous regions largely depends on the quality of their governance. Local governments in newly created autonomous regions serve as key pillars for regional development. Therefore, the central government should not be solely blamed when a new autonomous region fails to meet its development targets, improve public services, or achieve other objectives. Local governments themselves bear significant responsibility for ensuring that national development goals are effectively implemented within their jurisdictions. Both the central government and local governments pursue the same national objectives, making collaboration rather than division essential to achieving shared development goals.
Furthermore, Prof. Purwo explained that the primary indicator of a successful new autonomous region is its ability to manage its own affairs independently, particularly in terms of fiscal capacity, good governance, and ensuring the overall welfare of its community. It is therefore essential to assess whether the creation of a new autonomous region genuinely serves the interests of the public or merely advances the political ambitions of local elites, potentially diverting attention from regional development. He also stressed that the central government should not only establish new autonomous regions but also ensure that they possess sufficient financial resources to support sustainable regional development.
This legal outreach program strongly supports the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). First, it contributes to SDG 4 (Quality Education) by providing accessible non-formal legal education to the broader public through radio broadcasts, particularly for audiences who may not yet understand the concept of territorial expansion. Second, it supports SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities) by raising public awareness that one of the principal objectives of regional expansion is to promote equitable development and reduce disparities across Indonesia. Consequently, territorial expansion must be carefully planned and implemented. Third, the program advances SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions), as territorial expansion is founded upon the principles of decentralization and regional autonomy. The establishment and strengthening of institutions within new autonomous regions are essential to ensuring effective public service delivery and good governance.
Authors: Zacilasi Wasia and Maleakhi Samuel Pasalli
