Connecting the Dots: Making Digital Government a Reality in Indonesia

After reviewing the proposed collaboration between the Ministry of Administrative and Bureaucratic Reform (PANRB) and the Directorate General of Population and Civil Registration (Dukcapil), I believe this initiative is far more than a request for system integration or access to population data. It represents the beginning of Indonesia’s National Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI), with Portal Nasional INAku serving as the citizen-facing gateway to integrated government services.

The most important message from this initiative is that Indonesia is shifting from building individual government applications toward creating one integrated digital ecosystem centered on citizens. Instead of each ministry developing its own digital platform, INAku is designed as an orchestration layer that connects existing systems while allowing every ministry and institution to maintain ownership of its own data, business processes, and statutory authority. This is the right architecture for a modern digital government.

The proposal also establishes Dukcapil as Indonesia’s national trust layer. Through Digital Identity (IKD), biometric verification, and secure identity services, every citizen can access government services using a trusted digital identity. This identity layer becomes the foundation upon which future public services, digital transactions, and even AI-powered government services can securely operate.

Equally important is the adoption of the Life Event approach. Rather than requiring citizens to visit multiple government agencies, services should revolve around important events in people’s lives. Birth registration is the ideal starting point because a single birth triggers numerous government services, including civil registration, healthcare, immunization, nutrition programs, social assistance, and education. Citizens should experience one seamless government rather than multiple disconnected institutions.

The inclusion of the Once Only Principle is perhaps the most transformative aspect of the proposal. Citizens should provide their information only once. Verified data should then be securely reused across government services where legally permitted. This not only simplifies public services but also improves data quality, reduces fraud, eliminates duplication, and significantly enhances the citizen experience.

However, technology alone will not deliver digital government. Success depends on governance. Interoperability standards, cybersecurity, data governance, legal frameworks, audit mechanisms, and institutional collaboration must be established before large-scale implementation. Digital transformation is fundamentally a governance transformation supported by technology.

What Should Be Done Next?

To truly connect all the dots and make Digital Government a reality, Indonesia should move beyond individual integration projects and execute a coordinated national strategy.

First, establish a permanent national Digital Government governance body that aligns PANRB, Komdigi, Bappenas, Dukcapil, and all ministries under a common enterprise architecture, interoperability standards, cybersecurity framework, and implementation roadmap.

Second, complete the Digital Public Infrastructure by integrating its three essential building blocks:

• Digital Identity through Dukcapil and IKD.
• Secure data exchange and interoperability using common APIs and standards.
• A citizen-centric service platform through Portal Nasional INAku.

Together, these become the foundation upon which every future digital public service can be built.

Third, expand the Life Event approach beyond birth registration to include education, employment, marriage, business licensing, healthcare, taxation, social protection, retirement, and end-of-life services. Government should be organised around citizens’ journeys, not institutional boundaries.

Fourth, implement the Once Only Principle across all ministries. Citizens should never be asked repeatedly for information that the government already possesses. This will reduce bureaucracy, improve service quality, and create a truly seamless digital experience.

Fifth, develop a National Government API Ecosystem that enables ministries, local governments, state-owned enterprises, and authorised private-sector partners to securely exchange information while maintaining data ownership and privacy. This will encourage innovation without compromising governance.

Sixth, prepare Indonesia for the AI era by building trusted, high-quality government data. Artificial Intelligence can only generate reliable outcomes when it operates on verified digital identities, interoperable data, and strong governance. Digital Public Infrastructure is therefore the prerequisite for responsible AI in government.

Finally, digital transformation must be viewed as a national development agenda rather than an information technology project. Just as roads, ports, airports, electricity, and telecommunications enabled Indonesia’s industrial growth, Digital Public Infrastructure will become the strategic infrastructure that supports future public services, economic competitiveness, investment, financial inclusion, healthcare, education, and national resilience.

Indonesia has a unique opportunity to become the leading Digital Public Infrastructure ecosystem in ASEAN and one of the largest in the world. By connecting Digital Identity, interoperable government data, secure digital infrastructure, and citizen-centric services through INAku, Indonesia can build a government that is simpler, faster, more transparent, and more trusted by its people.

The challenge before us is no longer whether we have the technology. The challenge is whether we have the leadership, governance, and institutional commitment to connect every piece into one coherent digital ecosystem. Once we achieve that, Digital Government will no longer be a vision—it will become the everyday experience of every Indonesian citizen.