LABUHANBATU SELATAN | INDATANEWS.COM - The Regent of Labuhanbatu Selatan, Fery Sahputra Simatupang, S.H., has issued a strong warning to 15 newly appointed senior officials against falling into repetitive bureaucratic working practices. He urged them to develop innovative approaches, critically review existing programmes and formulate measures that deliver tangible benefits to the public.
Fery stressed that the regional government needed administrative officials who could think creatively and confidently drive change, rather than simply repeat previous work programmes without introducing improvements. In his view, merely copying old programmes through a so-called copy-and-paste approach would neither meet the needs of the community nor address the increasingly complex challenges of regional development.
He delivered the message on Thursday, 5 November 2026, during the swearing-in and inauguration ceremony for senior administrative officials, administrators, supervisory officials and heads of community health centres (Puskesmas) within the Labuhanbatu Selatan Regency Government.
The appointments mark an important step towards strengthening administrative structures, accelerating regional development and improving
public services. Fery reminded the newly appointed officials that changes in leadership positions must also bring improvements in working methods and the quality of government services.
"An office is a mandate and a sign of trust from the state. It is neither a personal right nor merely a symbol of position or authority. Rather, it carries a great responsibility for which officials must be accountable to their leaders, their organisations, the public and Almighty God," Fery emphasised.
Leaders Must Deliver Innovation and Tangible Results
Fery underlined that every official must justify the trust placed in them through integrity, loyalty, discipline and professionalism. He called on all administrative officials to understand their respective core duties and responsibilities and establish a results-oriented working culture.
According to Fery,
Labuhanbatu Selatan needed an administration that went beyond routine administrative tasks, understood the problems facing the community and developed appropriate solutions.
He called on all heads of Regional Government Organisations (OPD) to conduct comprehensive reviews of previously implemented programmes. Initiatives that no longer met current requirements needed to be revised to ensure they remained relevant to development priorities and delivered greater benefits to the public.
Fery also encouraged officials to make innovative decisions, develop programmes based on the community's actual needs and ensure that every government policy produced noticeable improvements.
He paid particular attention to senior administrative officials, who he said must serve as the main driving forces within their respective organisations. They needed a clear vision and the ability to translate strategic policy directions into practical programmes.
Furthermore, heads of regional government organisations were expected to set an example through integrity and professionalism. They were also urged to overcome departmental rivalries and institutional self-interest that could obstruct the implementation of development programmes.
Fery described cooperation and coordination between government organisations as essential to ensuring that programmes complemented one another, avoiding overlapping activities and making more efficient use of regional budget allocations.
He also expected middle-ranking administrative officials to act as a bridge between the leadership's policy directions and their practical implementation on the ground. Transparency and accountability, he stressed, must remain central to operational administration, budget management and staff supervision.
Supervisory officials, meanwhile, were responsible for ensuring that all activities complied with applicable Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). They also had a duty to maintain the quality of public services so that residents received prompt, friendly and appropriate assistance.
PUBLIC OFFICE IS A MANDATE AND A RESPONSIBILITY: Regent
Fery Sahputra Simatupang calls on all officials to uphold integrity, discipline, loyalty and professionalism, and to justify the trust placed in them through tangible results. (PHOTO: Jhon Fitra Sagala)
Health Centre Heads Urged to Improve Medical Services
In his address, Fery also highlighted the responsibilities of the newly appointed heads of community health centres (Puskesmas). He emphasised that these facilities were at the forefront of the regional government's efforts to ensure access to healthcare for the population.
He urged the new heads to adapt immediately to their working environments and personally assess the conditions and quality of healthcare services within their respective areas of responsibility.
Improving the quality of medical services, he said, must be their highest priority. They should also strengthen efforts to reduce the prevalence of stunting and prevent communicable diseases.
Fery warned that the regional government must not allow residents to struggle to obtain adequate healthcare. In his view, the quality of health services was an important measure of how seriously the government fulfilled its responsibility to meet the public's basic needs.
He also reminded all officials to manage the region's limited financial resources responsibly. This required clear priorities and the targeted use of available funding.
Limited financial resources, he stressed, must never be used as an excuse to lower the quality of public services or abandon creativity in implementing development programmes.
"Immediately hold internal coordination meetings, familiarise yourselves with your core duties and responsibilities in your new positions, strengthen communication with all staff members and accelerate the implementation of work programmes," he instructed.
Fery expects all newly appointed officials to demonstrate measurable results within a short period. The trust placed in them must not end with promises or administrative reports that fail to bring genuine improvements to people's lives.
ADMINISTRATIVE REFORM TO STRENGTHEN PUBLIC SERVICES:
Labuhanbatu Selatan Personnel and Administrative Agency head Riski Marli explains that the appointments aim to improve the performance of regional government organisations and increase the efficiency of government operations. (PHOTO: Jhon Fitra Sagala)
Ahmad Zein Takes Over Bapenda, Ismail Roy Leads BPBD
Alongside his directives on improving administrative performance, the inauguration also brought several changes to the organisational structure of the
Labuhanbatu Selatan Regency Government.
According to the attachment to the Regent of Labuhanbatu Selatan's Decree Number 800.1.3.3/BKPSDM/IV/2026, several administrative officials were assigned new responsibilities in strategically important positions within the regional government.
Particular attention focused on Ahmad Zein Nasution, S.AP., who was appointed to lead the
Labuhanbatu Selatan Regional Revenue Agency (Bapenda), and Ismail Roy Siregar, S.H., M.H., who took over as head of the Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD).
Before his appointment, Ahmad Zein Nasution worked as an analyst and planner at the Regional Development Planning, Research and Development Agency. Ismail Roy Siregar previously served as secretary of the Manpower Office.
Other personnel changes included the appointment of Andi Juni Endri Nasution as Deputy Inspector for Region III. Drg. Febrina Contantia was appointed head of the administration division at
Labuhanbatu Selatan Regional General Hospital, while Dr. Evarina Herawati Aritonang became head of the Child Rights Protection Division.
Indra Bakti Munthe, S.H., M.H., took over as head of the Social Protection and Social Security Division within the Social Affairs Office. Winda Paduwanita, S.E., was appointed head of the General Affairs and Personnel Administration Subdivision at the Office of Women's Empowerment, Child Protection, Population Control and Family Planning.
The personnel changes also involved several other administrative officials, including Nurliana Ritonga, S.Tr.Keb., Arnold Kristian Siagian, S.Si., Nurhafni Siregar, S.Tr.Keb., Anisyam Lubis, S.P., Sarimawar Tambunan, S.K.M., and Tuti Herana Siagian, S.E.
As part of the redistribution of responsibilities, Arnold Kristian Siagian, S.Si., who previously worked as a sports analyst at the Youth, Sports and Tourism Office, was appointed head of the Human Resources Development Division at the Labuhanbatu Selatan Education Office.
Nurhafni Siregar, S.Tr.Keb., Bd., who previously served as a senior midwife within the regional hospital administration of
Labuhanbatu Selatan, was assigned to lead the Government Affairs and General Services Division at the Kotapinang District Office.
Anisyam Lubis, S.P., moved from the position of head of the General Affairs and Personnel Administration Subdivision at the Food Security and Agriculture Office to a corresponding position at the Labuhanbatu Selatan Social Affairs Office.
Sarimawar Tambunan, S.K.M., who previously headed the Social Welfare Division at the Kotapinang District Office, was appointed head of the Community and Neighbourhood Development Division within the same administrative unit.
Tuti Herana Siagian, S.E., who previously worked as an analyst in general government affairs and regional autonomy, will now lead the Social Welfare Division at the Kotapinang District Office.
In the health sector, Sulika, S.K.M., was appointed head of the UPTD Puskesmas Rasau Community Health Centre. Apriyanti Aritonang, S.K.M., M.K.M., took over as head of the UPTD Puskesmas Sisumut Community Health Centre. Both facilities operate under the
Labuhanbatu Selatan Health Office.
The head of the Labuhanbatu Selatan Regency Government's Personnel and Administrative Agency, Riski Marli, S.Sos., M.M., explained that the inauguration formed part of ongoing efforts to reorganise and strengthen the region's administrative institutions.
He expressed hope that filling several strategic positions with appropriately qualified personnel would improve the performance of regional government organisations, strengthen
public services and increase the efficiency of government operations.
In particular, the new leadership of the Regional Revenue Agency (Bapenda) is expected to improve the management and optimisation of Regional Original Revenue (PAD), one of the most important funding sources for regional development.
The Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD), meanwhile, has an important responsibility to improve disaster preparedness, strengthen prevention and protection measures, expand inter-agency cooperation and ensure faster emergency responses when disasters occur.
Public Expects Tangible Improvements in Government Performance
The
administrative reshuffle in
Labuhanbatu Selatan presents new challenges for all newly appointed officials. Changes to positions and organisational structures must be accompanied by measurable improvements in government performance.
Residents need more than programmes that sound convincing in planning documents. They expect functioning infrastructure development, accessible healthcare services, straightforward administrative procedures and a government that responds promptly to problems on the ground.
Regent Fery's message therefore serves as a reminder that public office is not a place for simply maintaining old habits. Instead, it offers an opportunity to serve the community, improve governance and bring about positive change.
The public is now waiting for concrete results from the newly appointed officials. Will this administrative renewal genuinely encourage innovation and improve the quality of public services? Or will it amount to little more than an exchange of names within the government structure?
The success of transfers and appointments to leadership positions cannot be measured solely by the number of offices that have changed hands. What matters most is the improvement in government performance and the tangible benefits delivered to the people of
Labuhanbatu Selatan.
This also reflects the guiding principle repeatedly emphasised by the Labuhanbatu Selatan Regency Government in its development efforts: "Labusel is our home. We build it, protect it and care for it together." (IDNC)
REPORTER:
Jhon Fitra Sagala | EDITOR:
Fik Sagala