JAKARTA — Bahar Buasan, Vice Chairman of Committee I of the Dewan Perwakilan Daerah Republik Indonesia (DPD RI), officially earned his Doctorate in Police Science after defending his dissertation at an open doctoral promotion session at Sekolah Tinggi Ilmu Kepolisian (STIK-PTIK) in Jakarta on Tuesday (May 19, 2026).
The dissertation, titled “Collaboration Between the Police and Local Government in Empowering MSMEs for Strengthening Regional Security in the Bangka Belitung Islands Province,” examined the relationship between economic vulnerability and public security in the Kepulauan Bangka Belitung Islands.
In his research, Bahar Buasan argued that the region’s long-standing dependence on the tin mining sector has created structural social vulnerabilities, particularly following the decline of the industry due to global commodity fluctuations and tighter regulations on illegal mining activities.
According to Bahar, the weakening mining sector pushed many residents toward micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) as an alternative economic pathway. However, the rapid growth of MSMEs has not necessarily been accompanied by a decline in criminality.
“Regional security can no longer rely solely on reactive and repressive approaches. A community empowerment model involving the police, local government, and society collectively is urgently needed,” Bahar stated during his dissertation presentation.
Through a qualitative case-study approach, Bahar introduced what he called the Community-Based Empowerment Model (BBM), a collaborative framework that positions community police officers (Bhabinkamtibmas), local governments, MSME actors, and local communities as integrated partners in strengthening regional security through economic empowerment.
The dissertation also highlighted the changing patterns of crime in Bangka Belitung, where economic pressure has contributed to rising cases of extortion targeting small businesses, gang-related intimidation, and digital fraud schemes involving fake QRIS payment systems aimed at MSME operators with limited technological literacy.
During the session, Purnomo Yusgiantoro praised the dissertation’s transdisciplinary approach, describing it as highly relevant to broader development challenges across Indonesia.
He noted that Bangka Belitung reflects the phenomenon of an enclave economy, in which economic concentration within a single dominant sector creates widening social disparities.
“A comprehensive and integral approach is essential to ensure that economic development also contributes to social empowerment and regional stability,” said Purnomo Yusgiantoro, who currently serves as Chairman of the Professorial Council of Universitas Pertahanan.
The doctoral examination was chaired by Kif Aminanto alongside an academic panel consisting of Semiarto Aji Purwanto, Ilham Prisgunanto, Tagor Hutapea, Mifta Hadi Safii, Yopik Gani, and Syafrudin.
The dissertation was supervised by promoter Vita Mayastinasari, with co-promoters Sari Wahyuni and Riani Rachmawati.
Several national figures attended the session, including GKR Hemas, Tamsil Linrung, Teras Narang, and Irman Gusman, along with regional officials, academics, business leaders, and alumni of Lemhannas.
The open doctoral session, held from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. local time, was attended by hundreds of invited guests from various sectors, reflecting the broad public interest in the intersection of community empowerment, economic resilience, and regional security in contemporary Indonesia.
(Samsul Muarif)