Dedi Mulyadi Explains Why Prabowo Asked for Him After Missing TPAKD National Meeting
West Java Governor Dedi Mulyadi has explained his absence from the 2026 national co-ordination meeting of the Regional Financial Access Acceleration Teams (TPAKD), after President Prabowo Subianto briefly drew attention to it. Dedi said he was dealing with a fire on Mount Ciremai at the time.
“Look, you’re talking about me, aren’t you? The President asked for me during the briefing and I wasn’t there. I explained that handling the fire on Ciremai was a priority, as recommended by the State Secretary, and I had also reported it to the Cabinet Secretary,” Dedi Mulyadi said in a video statement on his official Instagram account, viewed on Friday (23 October 2026).
He said efforts to tackle the fire on Ciremai were going well, adding that the flames had not spread into the forest and had been contained.
“We have reported that the forest fire on Ciremai is being handled well. First, the fire is no longer spreading into the forest; it has been contained. We have co-ordinated our response. When I went to Ciremai yesterday, I called the Deputy Defence Minister, who had co-ordinated with all the relevant personnel,” he said.
Dedi said he had also co-ordinated with the Commander of the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) and the Chief of Staff of the Air Force. Helicopters would be deployed from Bogor for water-bombing operations, he said.
“Last night I co-ordinated with the TNI commander and the Air Force chief, and today helicopters will be sent from Bogor: one to Kertajati and two to Sukani Air Base in Majalengka. From there, they will conduct water-bombing operations to put out the fire and prevent it from spreading further,” he added.
He said that, from that day, a joint team of 1,000 residents, TNI and police personnel, and volunteers would also make use of channels to fight the fire on Ciremai. Dedi said he hoped the fire would not spread further.
“Second, today we have mobilised 1,000 residents, TNI and police personnel, and volunteers to use the channels as part of a comprehensive response to the fire. If the channels are properly established and the natural channels optimised, future fires will not spread everywhere,” he said.
Prabowo asks where KDM is
President Prabowo Subianto called the names of governors and deputy governors attending the 2026 TPAKD national co-ordination meeting. He asked for absent governors to be noted.
“To show respect to the governors who are here, I’d like to read out the names of the governors and deputy governors in attendance. This is important so their constituents know, although those who are absent have a lot of work to do. I apologise to the regents, as 230 are here. If I read out each of your names, the organisers would be angry with me,” Prabowo said at JIExpo Kemayoran in Jakarta on Thursday (22 October 2026).
Prabowo then asked about Dedi, who was absent while represented by his deputy. He remarked that Dedi’s province was closest to the event venue, yet he had not attended.
“Where’s KDM? The one who lives closest isn’t here. He must be busy,” Prabowo said.
Prabowo then called out East Kalimantan Deputy Governor Seno Aji, who did not respond when called despite being on the attendance list. Prabowo asked for the matter to be recorded and for his travel expenses to be returned.
“Good grief, make a note of this. The travel allowance must be returned,” he said.