Bandung Mayor Farhan Reports Illegal Tree Felling to Governor KDM
The Mayor of Bandung, Muhammad Farhan, has taken a firm stance against the alleged illegal felling of ten trees in the Jalan RE Martadinata area, commonly known as Jalan Riau, Bandung. Farhan has ensured that this environmental destruction case will be brought to the legal arena and officially reported to the Governor of West Java and the Ministry of Environment (KLH).
This step was taken after Farhan personally inspected the site on Friday (31/07/2026). During the inspection, he immediately ordered the sealing of the area where the trees were felled to maintain the status quo and facilitate the investigation process.
The tree felling is strongly suspected of violating various regulations at both the local and provincial levels. Farhan emphasised that this action not only breaches Bandung City Regional Regulations (Perda) but also violates the West Java Provincial Government Circular regarding the moratorium on tree felling.
“This tree felling violates the rules. I will raise this issue directly to the Governor (Dedi Mulyadi/KDM) so that it can be processed criminally, as it has the potential to be a significant legal violation,” Farhan stated firmly.
He added that the case involves broader violations of environmental protection provisions. The felled trees were mature trees that play a vital role as shade and are an essential part of Bandung’s urban ecosystem.
Based on preliminary information gathered on the ground, the felling is suspected to have occurred at night, specifically between the night of 1 July 2026 and the early hours of 2 July 2026. The perpetrators used a bold method, attempting to deceive local residents.
Several eyewitnesses reported that the perpetrators wore uniforms during the act, leading some to initially mistake them for official officers from relevant departments. However, upon verification, the activity was confirmed to be illegal and lacked official permits from the Bandung City Government.
As a follow-up, the Mayor has instructed the Bandung City Public Order Agency (Satpol PP) to immediately prepare an official report of the initial investigation findings.
“We will summon witnesses. Anyone involved in this environmental destruction will face heavy sanctions. I am very angry to see this happening. Whoever did this must be held accountable for their actions in accordance with the law,” Farhan concluded.
To prevent similar incidents from recurring, Farhan has called for the active role of all levels of society, including regional authorities and community security officers (Linmas). He instructed that any suspicious tree felling activity must be reported immediately to the authorities.
This preventive measure is expected to accelerate the government’s response in tackling illegal activities that damage the aesthetics and environmental capacity of Bandung.