Wednesday, 03 June 2026
MEDAN | INDATANEWS.COM – Medan Mayor Rico Tri Putra Bayu Waas has reinstated electronic identity card (e-KTP) registration and printing services at district (kecamatan) offices, a move aimed at improving public access to population administration services and reducing travel burdens for residents.
The policy was announced during the "Sapa Warga" community outreach program and a neighborhood clean-up event on Jalan Pahlawan in Medan Perjuangan District on Saturday, May 30, 2026.
According to Rico Waas, the decision was made in response to numerous complaints from residents who previously had to travel to the Medan Population and Civil Registration Office to process their e-KTP applications.
"I have revised the policy and returned e-KTP registration and printing services to the district offices," Rico Waas said.
Seven Districts Already Providing e-KTP Printing Services
The mayor explained that e-KTP printing had previously been centralized at the city's Population and Civil Registration Office, creating significant challenges for residents living in outlying areas such as Medan Belawan, Medan Deli, Medan Labuhan, Medan Tuntungan, and Medan Perjuangan.
"Imagine having to take an entire day off work and lose income just to process an identity card. Even after making the trip, there was no guarantee the process would be completed on the same day. This is a serious issue," he said.
Currently, e-KTP printing services are available in seven districts: Medan Belawan, Medan Deli, Medan Labuhan, Medan Tuntungan, Medan Johor, Medan Marelan, and Medan Denai.
Rico Waas stated that all district offices across Medan are expected to provide e-KTP printing services by the end of this year.
"For Medan Perjuangan and all other districts, I assure residents that they will be able to print their identity cards directly at their local district offices this year. People can submit their documents before work and collect their completed e-KTP in the afternoon, making the process far more efficient," he said.
Residents Raise Concerns Over Street Lighting and Drug Abuse
During the dialogue session, residents also highlighted several community issues, including inadequate street lighting and persistent drug-related crimes.
Ratna Simanjuntak said that her neighborhood has suffered from insufficient street lighting for nearly two decades. Another resident, Vivi, reported recurring theft incidents that she believes are linked to poorly lit streets.
In response, Rico Waas instructed the Transportation Agency and local administrative authorities to immediately assess the situation and implement corrective measures.
"I urge the relevant agencies to work closely with local authorities to inspect affected areas. Any missing or damaged streetlights must be repaired immediately and coordinated with the responsible institutions," he said.
Residents also called for stronger efforts to combat drug trafficking in their communities.
"Together with the police and the Regional Leadership Coordination Forum, we remain committed to combating drug-related crimes. Arrest operations will continue, but we also need active participation from the public. Any suspicious activity should be reported immediately," Rico Waas added.
City Government Advances Digital Verification of Social Assistance Data
At the same event, Rico Waas revealed that the Medan City Government is currently validating social assistance beneficiary data through the Digital Population Identity (IKD) system.
The initiative is intended to ensure that government aid reaches eligible recipients accurately and efficiently.
"We have been tasked with digitizing social assistance distribution to ensure benefits are delivered to those who genuinely need them. The allocation process is based on income classifications, including Decile 1 and Decile 2 groups. This system will help prevent mistargeted assistance in the future," he explained.
Rico Waas reaffirmed that the city government will continue engaging directly with residents through the "Sapa Warga" program to gather public feedback and develop solutions to local challenges. (IDNC)
REPORTER: Teguh Panjaitan | EDITOR: Fik Sagala
