Rahmat Hidayat Djati Emphasizes Fiscal Justice to Strengthen Regional Autonomy

Rahmat Hidayat Djati, Chairman of Commission I of the West Java Regional People's Representative Council (DPRD), emphasized the critical need for fiscal justice to bolster regional autonomy in Indonesia. He stated that strengthening autonomy must be accompanied by fiscal policies that acknowledge and reward the contributions of each region, particularly those actively engaged in environmental conservation and natural resource management.

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However, strong autonomy certainly requires fiscal justice.

Djati articulated this view during the Sunda Consultative Assembly (MMS) in Jakarta. He asserted that economic growth alone is insufficient for development; it must be coupled with fairness for communities and regions. "However, strong autonomy certainly requires fiscal justice," Djati remarked, adding that regions contributing significantly to forest and water resource preservation should receive equitable recognition and benefits.

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Because fiscal justice is not just about sharing results, but also about how contributions are valued.

He further elaborated that fiscal justice extends beyond mere revenue sharing, focusing instead on how regional contributions are proportionally valued. Djati also introduced the "Sunda Ecoregion" concept, envisioning it not as a divisive boundary but as a platform for inter-regional collaboration. He highlighted the historical, cultural, and social interconnectedness of Sunda, Cirebon, Banten, and Betawi as a foundation for shared future development, environmental protection, and human capital enhancement.

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Culture is our root, knowledge is our light, collaboration is our strength, justice is our ideal.

Referencing traditional Sundanese values like "sih asih, sih asah, sih asuh" (love, education, care), Djati advocated for a balanced approach to progress that respects environmental sustainability, echoing the principle "gunung teu kena dilebur, lebak teu menang dirusak" (mountains are not to be melted, valleys are not to be destroyed). He urged that the Sundanese identity should translate into tangible contributions of knowledge and innovation for Indonesia's future, aiming for a more advanced, just, and dignified nation.

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From Tatar Sunda, for a more advanced, just, and dignified Indonesia.