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A Conceptual Synthesis of Malaysia’s Rural Transformation Programme (RTP) and Indonesia’s Dana Desa: A Narrative Review

Jurnal Pengabdian Hukum Indonesia (Indonesian Journal of Legal Community Engagement) JPHI · Vol. 8 No. 1 (2025) · pp. 315–336

DOI
10.15294/jphi.v8i1.27407
ISSN
2654-8313, 2654-8305
Published
2025-08-26
Publisher
Universitas Negeri Semarang
Language
eng
License
creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0

Abstract

Rural development remains central to socio-economic equity in Southeast Asia, yet governance approaches vary significantly across countries. This narrative review offers a conceptual comparison between Malaysia’s Rural Transformation Programme (RTP), characterised by centralised policy control, and Indonesia’s Dana Desa, which is rooted in fiscal decentralisation and community empowerment. While each model has strengths, neither fully addresses the complexities of diverse rural settings. Through a theory synthesis approach, the study analyses structural, institutional, and participatory differences, drawing on multi-level governance, empowerment theory, and problem-driven iterative adaptation (PDIA). Based on these insights, the paper proposes the Structured and Responsive Hybrid Governance (THBR) model, a flexible framework that integrates national policy coherence with local autonomy and adaptive feedback mechanisms. The model offers a scalable approach to rural development suited to varied institutional capacities, particularly within the ASEAN context. THBR contributes to both theoretical discourse and policy design by bridging the divide between top-down and bottom-up governance in complex rural environments.

Keywords

Collaboration network of the authors

13 authors · 25 co-authorship links · 12 across different organisations

Hover or tap a name to highlight its co-authors. Double-click to open the author's page.

  • Universitas Muhammadiyah Malang
  • Universiti Utara Malaysia
  • Sultan Zainal Abidin University
  • Tashkent State University of Law
  • Different organisations
  • Same organisation
  • Affiliation unknown
  • Thicker line = more joint articles · bigger circle = more articles
Show as table
Co-authorOrganisationJoint articles
Juli AstutikUniversitas Muhammadiyah Malang1
Zaenal AbidinUniversitas Muhammadiyah Malang1
Shannaz Mutiara DeniarUniversitas Muhammadiyah Malang1
Norhasliza GhapacSultan Zainal Abidin University1
Wahyudi KurniawanUniversitas Muhammadiyah Malang1
Putri Shafarina ThahirUniversitas Muhammadiyah Malang1
TOJIBOYEV SARVAR ZAFAROVICHTashkent State University of Law1
Wasis WasisUniversitas Muhammadiyah Malang1
Ratri Novita ErdiantiUniversitas Muhammadiyah Malang1

Affiliations come from OpenAlex; journal OAI-PMH metadata carries none. Authors without an OpenAlex ID are matched by name, which can merge or split people.

Metadata source: OAI-PMH (metadata jurnal) https://journal.unnes.ac.id/journals/JPHI/oai, first harvested 5 Nov 2026, last seen 5 Nov 2026.
Original metadata (oai_dc) 
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	<dc:title xml:lang="en">A Conceptual Synthesis of Malaysia’s Rural Transformation Programme (RTP) and Indonesia’s Dana Desa: A Narrative Review</dc:title>
	<dc:creator xml:lang="en">Mohd Ali, Adi Syahid</dc:creator>
	<dc:creator xml:lang="en">Tuan Sembok, Tuan Muhammad Zukri </dc:creator>
	<dc:creator xml:lang="en">Ladiqi, Suyatno</dc:creator>
	<dc:creator xml:lang="en">Al-Fatih, Sholahuddin</dc:creator>
	<dc:subject xml:lang="en">rural development</dc:subject>
	<dc:subject xml:lang="en">governance</dc:subject>
	<dc:subject xml:lang="en">decentralization</dc:subject>
	<dc:subject xml:lang="en">Structured and Responsive Hybrid Governance Model</dc:subject>
	<dc:subject xml:lang="en">Narrative Review</dc:subject>
	<dc:description xml:lang="en">Rural development remains central to socio-economic equity in Southeast Asia, yet governance approaches vary significantly across countries. This narrative review offers a conceptual comparison between Malaysia’s Rural Transformation Programme (RTP), characterised by centralised policy control, and Indonesia’s Dana Desa, which is rooted in fiscal decentralisation and community empowerment. While each model has strengths, neither fully addresses the complexities of diverse rural settings. Through a theory synthesis approach, the study analyses structural, institutional, and participatory differences, drawing on multi-level governance, empowerment theory, and problem-driven iterative adaptation (PDIA). Based on these insights, the paper proposes the Structured and Responsive Hybrid Governance (THBR) model, a flexible framework that integrates national policy coherence with local autonomy and adaptive feedback mechanisms. The model offers a scalable approach to rural development suited to varied institutional capacities, particularly within the ASEAN context. THBR contributes to both theoretical discourse and policy design by bridging the divide between top-down and bottom-up governance in complex rural environments.</dc:description>
	<dc:publisher xml:lang="en">Universitas Negeri Semarang</dc:publisher>
	<dc:date>2025-08-26</dc:date>
	<dc:type>info:eu-repo/semantics/article</dc:type>
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	<dc:format>application/pdf</dc:format>
	<dc:identifier>https://journal.unnes.ac.id/journals/JPHI/article/view/27407</dc:identifier>
	<dc:identifier>10.15294/jphi.v8i1.27407</dc:identifier>
	<dc:source xml:lang="en">Jurnal Pengabdian Hukum Indonesia (Indonesian Journal of Legal Community Engagement) JPHI; Vol. 8 No. 1 (2025): (January-June 2025); 315-336</dc:source>
	<dc:source>2654-8313</dc:source>
	<dc:source>2654-8305</dc:source>
	<dc:source>10.15294/jphi.v8i1</dc:source>
	<dc:language>eng</dc:language>
	<dc:relation>https://journal.unnes.ac.id/journals/JPHI/article/view/27407/5874</dc:relation>
	<dc:rights xml:lang="en">Copyright (c) 2025 Adi Syahid bin Mohd Ali, Tuan Muhammad Zukri bin Tuan Sembok, Suyatno Ladiqi, Sholahuddin Al-Fatih  (Author)</dc:rights>
	<dc:rights xml:lang="en">https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0</dc:rights>
</oai_dc:dc>