KDM: Sunda Is Not Merely About Ethnicity and Geography, but Also Historically and Ideologically

West Java Governor Dedi Mulyadi, also known as Kang Dedi Mulyadi (KDM), has stressed that Sunda is not merely connected to geography or ethnicity. Sunda, he said, is an ideologically, historically, philosophically and sociologically defined region.

The remarks were made in a speech as the West Java Provincial Government staged the grand musical Pajajaran Gugat as part of the Milangkala Tatar Sunda celebrations in the Gedung Sate area, Bandung, on Sunday night, 17 May 2026. The drama is a work by artist Sujiwo Tejo.

KDM noted that Pajajaran Gugat was produced by Sujiwo Tejo. He, jokingly, said Tejo hails from the Majapahit Kingdom and has a history of conflict with the Sunda Kingdom.

“The Pajajaran Gugat story was produced by the artist Sujiwo Tejo; he is Majapahit, and he has an issue with Galuh in the Battle of Bubat,” he said in his remarks on Sunday, 17 May 2026.

He emphasised that past conflicts are not a problem, but can serve as a lesson for the future, guiding a narrative of advocacy for human beings.

“There is no problem with the past becoming the future; we should take past conflicts and turn them into a narrative of advocacy for humanity,” he added.

At the event, an encyclopaedia titled Ki Sunda, written by a team led by Bagus Muljadi, was handed to the West Java Governor. The book concerns Sunda values.

A number of ministers and former ministers, as well as other officials, attended the event, including Housing and Settlement Areas Minister Maruarar Sirait; Attorney General ST Burhanuddin; Cooperatives Minister Maman Abdurahman; former minister Susi Pudjiastuti; Member of the House of Representatives TB Hasanuddin; former West Java Police Chief Mochamad Iriawan; Dede Yusuf; Dadang Naser Bey Machmudin; and district heads and vice heads from across West Java.