KDM Responds to West Kalimantan Deputy Governor: Apologies if West Java Offends Other Regions

West Java Governor Dedi Mulyadi has responded to the challenge from West Kalimantan Deputy Governor Krisantus Kurniawan regarding the repair of damaged roads with limited budgets. “I also apologise if what is being done in West Java offends other regions,” Dedi said in a video uploaded to his Instagram, quoted on Monday (13/4). Dedi also conveyed that the development activities he is carrying out in West Java have no intention of comparing them to development in other regions. He realises that each region has its own challenges. The same applies to the varying fiscal capacities of each region. “Hopefully in the future, regions will grow their fiscal capabilities, so that revenue-sharing funds can flow to the producing regions,” he said. Recently, a statement from Krisantus went viral on social media, challenging Dedi Mulyadi to repair damaged roads with limited budgets. He made this statement in response to comments from residents in Sepauk, Sintang Regency, who compared the condition of roads in West Java with those in West Kalimantan. Krisantus stated that he would kiss Dedi Mulyadi’s knee if he could build roads with a budget of only Rp6 trillion. He stated that West Kalimantan cannot be compared to West Java. He mentioned that the two provinces have different territorial areas and budgets. Krisantus noted that West Java’s area is only 43,000 km² but its APBD reaches Rp31 trillion, in contrast to West Kalimantan’s area of up to 171,000 km² with an APBD of around Rp6 trillion. “Go ahead, ask Dedi Mulyadi to become Governor of West Kalimantan. I want to see, but using an APBD of Rp6 trillion to build West Kalimantan. If he can, I will kiss his knee,” Krisantus emphasised when opening the Musrenbang at the Sintang Regent’s Pendopo, West Kalimantan, on Thursday (9/4) as quoted from detikKalimantan.