OPSearch: American Journal of Open Research

The Reformulation of Administrative Discretion in the Management of Marine Areas by the Regional Government of Maluku Province

Julista Mustamu — Fri, 27 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000

This study examines governance challenges in Maluku Province as an archipelagic region with vast marine areas, particularly following the enactment of Law Number 23 of 2014 on Regional Government. This law significantly shifted authority over marine management from regency and municipal governments to provincial and central levels, resulting in the loss of local control over waters up to four nautical miles. Consequently, several issues have emerged, including reduced regional revenue, weakened supervision, and delayed responses to conflicts in marine spatial use. In practice, local governments have relied on administrative discretion to address regulatory gaps and maintain public service effectiveness in the marine sector. Discretion, rooted in the principle of Freies Ermessen, allows government officials to act in situations where legal norms are unclear or incomplete. The legal basis for discretion was formally strengthened through Law Number 30 of 2014 on Government Administration. However, the introduction of Law Number 11 of 2020 on Job Creation expanded the scope of discretion by removing the requirement that such actions must not contradict existing laws, raising concerns over potential misuse of authority. This research adopts a normative conceptual approach supported by empirical data to analyze the legal framework and implementation of discretion in marine governance in Maluku. It also proposes an ideal reformulation model to ensure discretion remains adaptive, accountable, and aligned with sustainable marine resource management in archipelagic regions.

Integrating the Cake Application for Speaking Improvement: A Study on Challenges and Opportunities for Pre-Service English Teachers

Kartika Puji Lestari, Siti Masrifatul Fitriyah — Fri, 27 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000

This study was conducted to explore the challenges and opportunities faced by pre-service English teachers in integrating the use of the Cake application into English language learning, which are often faced by pre-service English teachers in improving their speaking skills. This study focused on a qualitative design with data collection through semi-structured interviews conducted by three pre-service English teachers who are already accustomed to and actively use the Cake application to improve their speaking skills. This study employed thematic analysis. The rationale for this analytical method is that it facilitates grouping themes. By using themes from analytical domains, challenges and opportunities emerge iteratively and are validly recognized. After going through the analysis stages, three themes were identified, related to the challenge domains of Cake application integration. These three themes include 1) technical and accessibility barriers, 2) pedagogical limitations, and 3) motivational issues. However, the use of Cake also contributed three very helpful and valuable learning opportunities, such as 1) access to authentic multimodal input, 2) self-directed and flexible learning, and 3) increased fluency and confidence. From this, it can be understood that speaking skills are a substantial advantage derived from using this application. This indirectly indicates that using this application opens up opportunities for English language learning, particularly in speaking skills. Nevertheless, it is important to note that its presence inevitably poses challenges that can hinder optimal learning outcomes. This is certainly influenced by both internal and external factors. Therefore, its implementation must be balanced, including technical skills, student participation, and content presentation associations, all of which are carried out to ensure the accuracy of learning is in line with expectations. It is understandable that this study teaches balance. This is because it demonstrates that learning through applications shouldn't be complacent but should remain focused on the purpose of the activity. Therefore, through this research, future researchers are expected to be able to further explore the use of the Cake application, not only for standalone use but also for direct application in a broader context, namely in the EFL classroom.

Indigenous Belief Adherents in the Electoral Arena: Candidacy, Political Platforms, and Barriers to Participation in the 2019 and 2024 Elections

Halili, Aditya Perdana, Hurriyah — Sat, 28 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000

This article examines the political participation of penghayat kepercayaan in electoral competition following Constitutional Court Decision No. 97/PUU-XIV/2016. Integrating democratic inclusion theory with a multi-dimensional citizenship politics framework, the study investigates three dimensions: the candidacy phenomenon, the political platforms pursued, and the factors underlying most candidates' electoral failure. A qualitative explanatory case study design was employed, drawing on in-depth interviews and document analysis. The findings demonstrate that formal recognition via the Constitutional Court ruling has not translated into substantive citizenship in the electoral domain. Of the candidates identified across the 2019 and 2024 elections, only Tony Hatmoko is confirmed as elected to a legislative seat in the post-ruling period, through PKB in Karanganyar Regency in 2024. Electoral failure stems from a compound of structural, cultural, and political barriers: a de facto citizenship hierarchy produced by Indonesia's system of religious governance; the paradox of democracy weaponised by religious identity politics; the limited political capital of candidates from a historically marginalised minority; the absence of electoral incentives for mainstream politicians to champion their interests; and deep path dependency within state religious governance institutions. This article contributes to scholarship on minority citizenship politics and differentiated citizenship in emerging democracies.