Brigpol Kamaludin Transforms 'Couch Potatoes' in NTB into Earners

Bhabinkamtibmas for Sermong Village, Taliwang Police, West Sumbawa, Brigpol Kamaludin, has successfully transformed residents who were once ‘kaum rebahan’ (couch potatoes) into earners. Kamaludin has been empowering the community to farm and raise livestock since 2021. He is one of the top three candidates for the Hoegeng Awards 2026 in the Dedicated Police Officer category.

“When I became a Bhabinkamtibmas, it was still the COVID-19 pandemic atmosphere, and I saw that the community’s economy was declining,” Kamaludin said during an interview for the Hoegeng Awards 2026. He assessed that providing food aid was not a long-term solution. He wanted the residents to become self-sufficient and have a sustainable income.

“I provided plant seeds, livestock seeds. I talked to the women about making salted eggs, ‘We want to, Sir, to increase our income,’ from there I told the women to just prepare the labour, for capital and mentoring, that’s my business,” he said. “Likewise with bamboo weaving, I supported the raw materials from bamboo, then I assisted them in selling, I looked for buyers, I connected them with the condition that no money transactions go through me.”

One resident, Bambang Akbar, was given capital and mentoring for farming and livestock by Kamaludin. Bambang admitted he was previously a ‘couch potato’ before meeting Kamaludin. “I was a couch potato because I had no job. After Bhabin came and asked ‘what do you want?’ he saw where our skills or desires were, he immediately supported us, he brought poultry, from five birds it grew, developed, until it no longer fit beside the house, we moved it, he helped build a coop,” said Bambang. Bambang was also leased land for horticultural crops and now owns 3 hectares of agricultural land. “Mr Kamal is extraordinary, there is no such thing as calculation, he helps us, he has never asked for anything in return for all the results, even though he supports, he provides the capital, he has never once asked for that,” he said.

The economy of Sermong Village has reportedly improved since Kamaludin’s seedling assistance programme. This was conveyed by the local village head. “I have had three Bhabinkamtibmas officers, including Mr Kamaludin, who is the last during my tenure. We are not comparing our Bhabins, but with his arrival, this environment has changed,” said Sermong Village Head, Rosi. Rosi said Kamaludin is not only present for public order and security but also to drive the village community’s economy. “If previously the unemployed among these children, or women, and men were at a figure of 100 people, now with Mr Bhabin carrying out activities for food security, unemployment is now 75% alleviated,” he said.

Taliwang Police Chief AKP Zainal Abidin admitted he is proud to have a figure like Brigpol Kamaludin. He called Kamaludin the icon of Bhabinkamtibmas in West Sumbawa. “Indeed, my member Brigpol Kamaludin is the icon of Bhabinkamtibmas in West Sumbawa, because he carries out his duties sincerely, with no tendency, no other motivation except to serve, even responding to the community, whatever difficulties the community has, he helps,” said Zainal. AKP Zainal acknowledged that Kamaludin is very active in community security and order matters. Kamaludin is also active in helping with other village issues, one of which is the residents’ economy. “I am proud that Brigadier Kamaludin does not use a single donor from other people for financing, no. Bhabinkamtibmas has operational support from the police, all of that is used for their operations to help the community, they find seeds, if that is not enough, he told me, he sets aside a little of his own fortune to help the community,” he concluded.