West Java Governor Rejects Proposal to Rename Province 'Tatar Sunda'

A debate is brewing in Indonesia over a proposal to change the name of West Java province to "Tatar Sunda." The idea, which has reportedly received a green light from the West Java Regional People's Representative Council (DPRD), has sparked discussion and differing opinions.

However, the Governor of West Java, Dedi Mulyadi, has firmly rejected the proposal. He described the name change idea as a "fabrication" and asserted that the provincial government will continue to focus on development, not on altering the province's name. "The name remains West Java," Mulyadi stated on his Instagram account, dismissing the reports as baseless stories.

Adding to the discourse, the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Cucun Ahmad Syamsurizal, advised the West Java DPRD and provincial government to prioritize regional development. While acknowledging awareness of the proposal, Syamsurizal noted that it has generated controversy among the public. He urged proponents of the name change to communicate their intentions clearly to the community if they wish to pursue it.

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If you ask me, it's better to focus on how to develop each province.

Despite the governor's firm stance, the proposal continues to be discussed. The Commission I of the West Java DPRD recently held a working meeting with a community group advocating for the name change, resulting in several recommendations. The commission's chairman, Rahmat Hidayat Djati, indicated that these recommendations are a follow-up to the proposals submitted by the community.

The discussion highlights a tension between regional identity aspirations and the practicalities of governance and development. While the governor has shut down the immediate possibility of a name change, the ongoing discussions suggest the issue may persist.

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I emphasize that there are those who are throwing around proposals, creating stories on social media, about a name change for West Java to Tatar Sunda. I say all of that is someone else's fabrication. The West Java Provincial Government will continue to focus on working, will not deal with a name change. The name remains West Java.