Breaking Down Barriers: Truly Becoming the People's House
Bandung City Council (DPRD) Chairman Asep Mulyadi said he feels anguished whenever he hears of children dropping out of school or residents lying ill without access to medical care. This is why Asep harbours great aspirations to lay the foundations for the self-sufficiency of a city that serves as the primary urban and metropolitan centre of West Java. “There should no longer be any resident who feels they are struggling alone,” Asep said.
He has declared a major mission: to break down barriers and transform the Bandung City Council into a genuine “People’s House.” He does not want parliament to be perceived as a rigid bureaucratic fortress, entangled in protocol, and beyond public reach. “We are making a serious effort to redefine the Council office as more than just an officials’ building,” he said.
Asep has initiated a breakthrough programme called “DPRD Listens.” The programme is not merely an administrative formality but an active movement in which council leaders and members are encouraged to go into the field more frequently. For Asep, every council member, as a representative of the public, must be present among constituents, gathering aspirations before complaints arise.
Efforts to modernise communication channels through the Public Relations and Protocol division and the digitalisation of public aspirations are under way. For instance, social media is being repositioned not as a showcase for activities but as a responsive gateway for public complaints. To date, the system continues to be refined as a demonstration of commitment to being more responsive to residents’ concerns. “I want all of us to be the kind of people who can be approached for discussion anywhere, even at a coffee stall,” Asep said.
Bandung residents have exceptionally high expectations of their city and its leaders. He considers his current position not an honour but a mandate and responsibility that must be shouldered.
Asep drew attention to the still relatively high poverty and unemployment figures in Bandung. Meanwhile, the Bandung City Government operates the Bandung Utama Regional Acceleration Programme (Prakarsa Bandung Utama), which focuses on infrastructure improvement, community empowerment, health, and the economy.
The Bandung City Council is pushing to maximise programmes that address problems at the district level. The Council also continues to ensure that every budget allocation is absorbed into empowerment programmes.
The Council will also focus on overseeing the Development Planning Consultation (Musrenbang) from the neighbourhood association level through to sub-district and district levels. Nevertheless, Asep noted, not all aspirations can be accommodated this year due to efficiency measures, reductions in Transfers to Regions (TKD), and other factors requiring adjustments.
Asep called on all parties to participate in ensuring the efficiency and transparency of the Bandung City Government’s budget, including monitoring that programmes deliver a genuinely significant impact.
According to Asep, Bandung must build a strong shield to become a city that is economically and food self-sufficient. “An self-reliant city is important so that we are not perpetually dependent on external pressures, particularly regarding basic food needs,” he said.
Moreover, he added, Bandung and creativity are two inseparable sides of the same coin. This is why Asep wants to position creative communities as the driving force of the economy.
“We are strengthening the Regional Regulation (Perda) on Modern Retail Arrangement. The aim is to ensure that local SME products secure prime shelf space, not merely serve as fillers,” Asep said. “This includes encouraging SME operators to compete in the digitalisation era and in global markets.”