Thursday, 08 October 2026
MEDAN | INDATANEWS.COM - Medan Mayor Rico Tri Putra Bayu Waas has criticized the condition of several kelurahan offices, which he said were not being properly maintained. During an unannounced inspection at the Dwi Kora Village Head's Office in Medan Helvetia District on September 29, 2026, Rico Waas found several rooms in a dirty and neglected condition.
During the inspection, Rico found used items scattered around, walls covered in dust, and several pieces of office equipment that were not functioning properly. In response to the conditions, the Medan mayor urged kelurahan employees to pay greater attention to cleanliness and the maintenance of facilities belonging to the Medan City Government.The condition of the Dwi Kora Village Head's Office subsequently drew further attention after a video of the unannounced inspection was circulated on social media. The video showed Rico Waas reprimanding Dwi Kora Village Head Rio Rahmad Alam Siregar over the condition of the office he encountered during the inspection.
"Do you still want to be the village head or not? Your work is not right," Rico Waas said to Dwi Kora Village Head Rio Rahmad Alam Siregar in the video circulated on social media.Following the unannounced inspection, the Medan City Government also reviewed the condition of the office through the Inspectorate. The examination was part of follow-up measures concerning the problems identified during the inspection.
Speaking to journalists on Monday, October 5, 2026, after attending a plenary session of the Medan City Council, Rico Waas said Medan City Government employees were responsible for maintaining the government facilities they use to administer public services and serve residents.
According to Rico, the inspection found problems involving the cleanliness and maintenance of several facilities. He stressed that employees who neglected their responsibilities could face disciplinary sanctions in accordance with applicable regulations."It has already been checked. There will definitely be disciplinary action because the person concerned did not maintain the facility. Of course, there will be disciplinary action," Rico said.
Rico explained that the problems he found were not simply about the size of the kelurahan budget or damaged facilities. Rather, office cleanliness was a basic responsibility of employees that required daily attention.He reminded the entire Medan City Government not to treat cleanliness as a minor matter. In his view, kelurahan offices are places where employees directly provide services to the public. Therefore, the condition of the offices must support the performance of those duties.
"It is not about the facility being damaged, but about cleanliness. When it comes to cleanliness, it really needs to be improved. We clean our own homes, let alone the office. Our colleagues may even spend more time in the office than at home," he said.Rico also urged all organizational units of the Medan City Government and administrative structures across Medan to increase their attention to government assets. The government provides various facilities to support employees in carrying out their duties. Therefore, every facility must be used properly and maintained regularly.
In his view, employees should not wait until damage becomes more serious before reporting it. The condition of government assets must be checked regularly so that problems can be identified and addressed at an early stage."I ask our colleagues to monitor and document existing problems. They must not simply be left unattended," he stressed.
He cited damage to roofs and exterior parts of buildings as examples. The government could repair such damage if employees reported it through the established procedures.
"If the roof is leaking or an exterior part of the roof is damaged, please report it so it can be repaired. But after it has been repaired, it must be maintained and taken care of," he said.The statement shows that Rico expects employees not only to report damage but also to take responsibility after repairs have been completed. He wants to ensure that repaired facilities remain in good condition and continue to support public services.
The discussion about the condition of kelurahan offices has also raised questions about operational budget support at the kelurahan level. A former village head, who requested anonymity, explained that different budget mechanisms apply to kelurahan needs, including area development and office operational requirements.According to the former village head, kelurahan offices have what is known as the Dana Kelurahan, or Kelurahan Fund. During the administration of former Medan Mayor Bobby Nasution, he said, the fund amounted to more than Rp1 billion. Currently, the budget stands at around Rp200 million.
He explained, however, that the Dana Kelurahan is intended for the development of the kelurahan area and is not designed to cover all operational needs of the village head's office.Under the applicable procedure, the kelurahan submits its needs to the relevant district. The district then carries out procurement according to the stated requirements and available budget.
According to him, this mechanism can sometimes take considerable time because the kelurahan has to wait for its turn in the district's procurement process."It takes quite a long time because you have to wait in line," the former village head said.
He explained that, in practice, various needs still have to be addressed directly by the village head. These include requirements related to activities at integrated health service posts, as well as smaller office needs such as replacing defective lights and other supporting components.In his view, such situations can be handled more easily when kelurahan offices receive support from the Community Empowerment Institution or social actors who actively participate in community activities in their respective areas.
He acknowledged that during his tenure as village head, he had not infrequently used personal allowances to cover needs that were not included in the budget but still had to be addressed so that administrative and community services could continue."That is the situation in the kelurahan. Not infrequently, my allowance was used for needs that were not included in the budget but still had to be addressed. That is the situation," he explained.
The issue shows that the condition of a kelurahan office is not solely related to employees' responsibility for cleanliness and the maintenance of government assets, but also to mechanisms for meeting operational needs. At the same time, the Medan City Government continues to emphasize that existing facilities must be properly maintained and responsibly used.The conditions found during the unannounced inspection at the Dwi Kora Village Head's Office therefore serve as a reminder to the Medan City Government to regularly monitor the condition of working environments. The government must also ensure that damage reports are submitted through established procedures so that repairs can be carried out without delay, while maintaining employees' responsibility to care for facilities after repairs have been completed.
Cleanliness, maintenance of government assets, prompt reporting of damage, and adequate operational support must therefore go hand in hand so that kelurahan offices can fulfill their primary function as public service centers. (IDNC)REPORTER: Ahmad Zulfikar | EDITOR: Fik Sagala
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