West Java Governor Apologizes for Lack of Electricity, Criticizes Feudal Bureaucracy

During Indonesia's 81st Independence Day ceremony, West Java Governor Dedi Mulyadi, known as KDM, issued an apology to residents still without electricity. He acknowledged that basic government services have not been effectively delivered, even after 81 years of independence.

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Yes, we must be honest about our situation. 81 years of independence, basic government services have not been able to run effectively.

KDM noted that when he took office, 500,000 people in West Java lacked electricity, a stark reality for a province that is a major energy producer with hydroelectric, geothermal, and solar power plants. He criticized the practice of neglecting the very regions that generate these resources, leading to suffering in communities near mines and power plants.

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Hydroelectric power plants are here, geothermal is here, even in Cirata there is now a solar power plant. Well, this development has often neglected the areas that are the sources of production, so the source production areas often suffer.

"This perspective must be corrected and acknowledged as something that needs to be rectified in regional financial management," KDM stated, emphasizing his focus on West Java's provincial governance. He pointed out that revenue sharing often benefits other areas, leaving the source regions underserved. The governor stressed the need to redefine independence beyond symbolism to ensure the fulfillment of basic needs like electricity, healthcare, education, and economic opportunities for all citizens.

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This is a perspective that must be corrected immediately and acknowledged as something that must be corrected in regional financial management. I am talking about the West Java Province, yes.