Sigi Regency Launches Language Training To Prevent Legal Missteps

On February 2, 2026, the government of Sigi Regency in Central Sulawesi took a decisive step to improve the quality of its administration by launching a comprehensive language proficiency program for its civil servants. The initiative, held at the Aula of SMPN 1 Sigi, was a collaborative effort with the Language Center of Central Sulawesi Province and brought together 70 participants representing 21 agencies within the regency government. The event, which continued through February 3, aimed to address a persistent yet often overlooked challenge in public administration: the critical importance of using correct and precise Indonesian in official documents.

At the heart of the program was a simple but powerful premise: language matters. Nuim Hayat, the Regional Secretary (Sekretaris Daerah) of Sigi, opened the event with a candid acknowledgment of the problems that have arisen from ambiguous or imprecise language in government paperwork. According to Antara News, Hayat did not mince words about the consequences of such errors. “Errors in wording or sentence structure in legal documents have caused issues involving legal, financial, and supervisory parties,” he explained. “A single sentence can be interpreted differently by legal, financial, or supervisory officials. This leads to legal problems that actually originate from language in the documents.”

It’s a scenario that might sound familiar to anyone who has navigated the labyrinth of government regulations. In Sigi, these linguistic pitfalls have led to real-world headaches. One example cited by Hayat involved the overpayment of honorariums, stemming from differing interpretations of Ministry of Home Affairs regulations. The confusion, he noted, was so profound that it even reached the ministry level, sowing uncertainty and sparking debates over the intended meaning of official rules. “In official documents, one word can give rise to many interpretations. If not careful, this can lead to disputes or even legal problems,” Hayat told Strateginews.id.

With these cautionary tales as a backdrop, the language improvement program set out to instill a culture of precision and clarity among Sigi’s civil servants—known as ASN (Aparatur Sipil Negara). The focus was not merely on technical correctness, but on fostering a deeper appreciation for how language underpins professionalism, transparency, and accountability in government. As Hayat put it, “Proficiency in Indonesian language is a fundamental need for ASN to support professionalism and prevent administrative and legal issues caused by language errors.”

The event itself was more than just a seminar. It was a hands-on, participatory effort that drew secretaries, heads of fields, and staff from across the regency’s government apparatus. Syarifuddin, the Head of the Language Center of Central Sulawesi Province, attended alongside Hayat, underscoring the importance of the collaboration. According to Mercusuar, the program aimed to strengthen the correct, effective, and proper use of Indonesian, particularly in the context of drafting legal documents, official correspondence, and other administrative texts.

For many participants, the training was a wake-up call. The smallest mistake in word choice or sentence construction, they learned, could have outsized consequences—triggering disagreements, administrative delays, or even legal action. Hayat was adamant that these are not mere technicalities. “The placement of words and sentences in documents, especially legal products, is very important. There should be no double meanings that can cause problems in the future,” he stressed.

But the program’s ambitions did not stop at the regency level. Hayat expressed hope that the lessons learned would ripple outward, reaching sub-districts, villages, and every corner of the local bureaucracy. “I hope this language proficiency improvement activity does not stop at the regency level, but can be continued to smaller work units, including sub-districts and their apparatus,” he said, as quoted by Mercusuar. The idea is to create a virtuous cycle, where knowledge and best practices are passed down the administrative chain, ultimately leading to better governance at every level.

Such aspirations are rooted in the belief that clear, precise language is not just about avoiding mistakes—it’s about building public trust. As highlighted by Strateginews.id, the Sigi government sees effective communication as a cornerstone of professional, integrity-based public service. By equipping civil servants with the tools to write and speak accurately, the administration hopes to foster a culture of orderliness, transparency, and accountability. “Language that is good and correct will help ASN work more carefully, especially in preparing official documents, correspondence, and other official texts,” Hayat explained.

Of course, the challenges facing Sigi are hardly unique. Across Indonesia, and indeed the world, governments grapple with the complexities of bureaucratic language. Laws and regulations are only as effective as the clarity with which they are written and understood. In this light, Sigi’s initiative stands as a model for other regions seeking to strengthen their administrative foundations. The involvement of the Language Center of Central Sulawesi Province added both expertise and credibility to the effort, ensuring that the training was grounded in best practices and national standards.

The program also reflects a broader trend in Indonesian public administration, where there is growing recognition of the need for continuous professional development among civil servants. By prioritizing language skills, Sigi is investing in the long-term effectiveness of its government. As Hayat observed, “Improving Indonesian language skills is a fundamental need for ASN, especially in drafting regulations and official documents to prevent ambiguity.”

The event’s impact will ultimately be measured by how well its lessons are integrated into daily practice. Hayat was clear about his expectations: the knowledge gained should be shared and applied by all civil servants, so that government administration proceeds according to proper principles. “I hope the knowledge gained can be conveyed and applied by all ASN, so that government administration runs according to the correct rules,” he said, according to Mercusuar.

As the two-day event wrapped up, the sense of purpose was palpable. Civil servants left with a renewed appreciation for the power of language—and a clear mandate to use it wisely. The hope is that, by rooting out ambiguity and fostering clarity, Sigi’s government will not only avoid costly mistakes but also set a new standard for professionalism and integrity in public service.

In a world where the stakes of a single misplaced word can be surprisingly high, Sigi’s focus on language may well prove to be one of its most forward-thinking reforms.