Bripka Rudi's Contributions Bring Internet and Solar Panel Electricity to Remote Areas of North Kalimantan

The dedication of Bripka Rudi is deeply felt by the residents of Long Sule and Long Pipa villages in Malinau Regency, North Kalimantan (Kaltara). He has brought internet access and solar panel electricity to the people in these remote areas of Kaltara.

For his contributions, Bripka Rudi has been nominated as a candidate for the 2026 Hoegeng Awards by a community member named Mohamad Ari. Ari is a high school teacher in Long Sule village. Here is Ari’s testimony for Bripka Rudi:

Bripka Rudi is a member of the Indonesian National Police who has devoted himself to the remote areas of North Kalimantan for more than 10 years, precisely 16 years. He has greatly helped the people of Long Sule and Long Pipa villages, which lack access to electricity, internet, and roads. He has helped provide internet services for residents and electricity services from solar cell panels. Not many police officers are able to devote themselves to remote areas like Bripka Rudi, who has served for about 16 years. Therefore, it is fitting that he receives appreciation from the police force.

Detikcom then contacted Ari. He appreciated the role and contributions of Bripka Rudi in bringing internet access and electricity services to residents in the villages he oversees.

“Here (previously), there was no road access, no internet either, but he was able to provide internet services. He even played a role in installing electricity from solar panels,” Ari told detikcom on Friday (6/3/2026).

Ari praised Bripka Rudi’s dedication to the residents of Long Sule and Long Pipa villages. According to him, Bripka Rudi’s more than a decade of service in the remote areas of Kaltara has had a significant impact on the local community.

“Not many members are willing to stay in remote areas like this; he has served here for 16 years. He truly deserves appreciation from the police,” he said.

Bripka Rudi’s contributions go beyond providing internet and electricity access. For educational activities, Bripka Rudi is said to be actively serving as a coach for school children’s extracurriculars, particularly Paskibra.

“At school, he is always involved in coaching Paskibra every year. We always collaborate with the Bhabinkamtibmas,” Ari said.

Bripka Rudi is a candidate for the 2025 Hoegeng Corner. In a conversation with detikcom, he mentioned that he has been serving as Bhabinkamtibmas in Long Sule and Long Pipa villages since 2011. These villages are located in Kayan Hilir subdistrict, surrounded by mountains and accessible only by pioneer aircraft.

“I have been here for 15 years, close to the community, aware of the situation, always accompanying them. Although there are many limitations here. First, transportation is only by plane from the regency to this village; there is no other access besides aircraft,” Bripka Rudi said in a conversation with detikcom on Monday (29/9/2025).

Long Sule and Long Pipa villages are on the Indonesia-Malaysia border. The geographical condition of the villages is in the middle of the forest. There is no PLN electricity supply; residents rely only on batteries and solar panels.

“There is no land route from Malinau Regency because we are directly on the border with Malaysia. Here, many people say that Indonesia is independent, but we are not independent in terms of our lives, for example, food items like sugar at 60,000 rupiah per kilo, petrol at 60,000 rupiah per litre,” he said.

Despite the limitations in the village, Bripka Rudi remains grateful. Because, according to him, the police must be among the people.

“That’s what my community feels, but they are grateful in terms of security; it’s safe and comfortable here because they are accompanied by Bhabinkamtibmas and Babinsa from the TNI,” he stated.

Pioneer aircraft operations to and from Long Sule and Long Pipa villages run every Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday, with ticket prices around Rp 600,000. Rudi said residents often face difficulties when handling administrative matters at the subdistrict or regency offices.

“There might be a small issue; they want to register for PPPK, they want to get an SKCK, I help from here, I connect them to the police sector, because my police sector is also separate and requires another plane from the post here. So everything here requires a plane; in the city, there are still online motorcycles,” he explained.

Bripka Rudi recalls the beginning of his assignment as Bhabin in Long Sule and Long Pipa villages. In 2010, Bripka Rudi was assigned to the Kayan Hilir police sector. He then visited the subdistrict office.

“At that time, I talked with the Camat there; how many villages are in the subdistrict, Mr Camat? He answered five villages, but I only knew three. The other two are separate; you have to take a plane again. I was curious where those villages were,” he explained.

Then, Rudi was tasked with delivering logistical supplies for the 2010 regional elections to the village. He talked with the residents. After the conversation, the local residents requested the presence of police in the area.

“For about 20 years, there was no police; ‘if possible, sir, serve with us.’ From there, I felt the need for a police presence in these two villages. They immediately offered me a place to stay,” he explained.

Rudi said the biggest challenge in serving in Long Sule and Long Pipa villages is road access. He even once chartered a plane to send his official motorbike to the location.

“Chartered a plane; I once brought the Bhabin motorbike, costing me 18 million, whereas the operational funds from Polda were only 500,000 released; for three months, I saved just to bring that motorbike. Because it’s mandatory for one Bhabin to have one vehicle, but here there is no proper road for motorbikes; it’s all on foot, footpaths,” he explained.

Installing the Internet Network

To date, cellular networks are still inaccessible in Long Sule and Long Pipa villages. To facilitate communication, Rudi installed an internet network at his own expense.

“Wifi, so after I experienced the pain of no cellular network here, I took the initiative to buy a satellite network, I placed one in Long Sule village and one in Long Pipa, with the note that they buy it at a cheap price; for the monthly fee, I pay it.”