Cirebon's 599th Anniversary: Sidkon Djampi Urges West Java Government to Strengthen Support for Pesantren

Anggota Komisi I DPRD Jawa Barat, Sidkon Djampi, has invited all elements of society to use the 599th anniversary of Cirebon as a moment to emulate the great legacy left by the founder of the Cirebon Sultanate. He stated that this legacy encompasses not only a system of governance but also the strengthening of Islamic values, which continue to flourish today through pesantren (Islamic boarding schools). Sidkon explained that Sunan Gunung Jati was a figure who combined the roles of ulama (religious scholar) and umara (political leader) in one person. As the founder of the Cirebon Sultanate, he carried out governmental and leadership functions, while simultaneously being known as a disseminator of Islam who played a major role in the spread of the faith across West Java and the archipelago. “He was an umara who led the government and an ulama who spread Islamic teachings. These two roles were united in Sunan Gunung Jati and remain a relevant example today,” Sidkon said on Monday afternoon. He noted that the legacy of Sunan Gunung Jati’s dakwah (Islamic propagation) can still be felt today through the growth of pondok pesantren in the greater Cirebon area. In Cirebon Regency alone, for instance, there are hundreds of pesantren serving as centres for Islamic education and community development, with similar traditions thriving in Cirebon City and Indramayu Regency. Sidkon emphasised that pesantren are important assets that must be preserved and developed, as they not only produce generations with religious understanding but also contribute to building national character and strengthening moral values within society. He therefore urged the West Java Provincial Government to pay greater attention to pesantren development, arguing that regional progress should not be measured solely by physical infrastructure but also by advancements in the education and religious sectors. “The spirit inherited from Sunan Gunung Jati is a balance between governmental development and religious development. Therefore, the development and operation of pondok pesantren must be a primary concern of the regional government,” he said. On the occasion of Cirebon’s 599th anniversary, Sidkon expressed hope that the West Java Provincial Government would view Cirebon holistically, not just as a region rich in culture and history, but also as a centre for Islamic educational development that makes a significant contribution to West Java. “Cirebon possesses a strong Islamic civilisational heritage. Through the continuously growing pesantren, the values taught by Sunan Gunung Jati remain alive and serve as an important foundation for societal development,” Sidkon concluded.