Leading Amid Dynamic Challenges, Farhan Chooses to Strengthen Basic Services in Bandung

On 20 February 2025, Muhammad Farhan was inaugurated as the Mayor of Bandung for the 2025-2030 term. A short time to address Bandung’s complex problems, but long enough to learn, listen and set a direction. Bandung is a city with high energy, strong creativity, and public expectations that are never small. ‘In the past year I have seen how Bandung residents express hopes, criticisms, even disappointment, both directly and through digital spaces. I take all of that as part of the living democracy of the city,’ Farhan said. From the start, he pledged to keep space for residents to express their views, including criticisms, open. The government’s task is to ensure voices do not stop at complaints, but are answered with real improvements. ‘From the various issues that coloured this first year, I have learned that leading Bandung is not enough with grand ideas or programmes that sound attractive. What residents feel most are everyday things: waste properly managed, roads well arranged, parking more humane, public spaces community-friendly again, and public services responsive,’ he added. The criticisms citizens raise, he says, almost always stem from real daily experiences. Therefore, he chose not to view criticism as a threat, but as a reminder that government presence must be truly felt in residents’ lives. According to Farhan, the everyday experiences also shape how residents view city policy, including when Bandung is often described as an ‘event city’. The label is not entirely unfounded. Events drive the economy, provide space for cultural expression and attract visitors. Farhan understands the criticisms that accompany them: congestion, post-event waste, and questions about long-term benefits for residents. Therefore, going forward, every event in Bandung must meet clearer standards. ‘Not just big crowds, but must have impact. The economic impact must be measurable, involvement of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) must be real, and environmental responsibility must be part of planning. With this approach, events do not stand alone, but are connected to residents’ quality of life,’ he explained. Waste management On the other hand, Farhan also notes issues such as waste, urban planning and public spaces that may not always make the front page, but are the face of government closest to daily life. In the past year, he has begun reorganising waste management, improving basic infrastructure and revitalising public spaces so they belong to the community again. ‘I will not say that all problems are solved. Not yet. Yet the policy direction is clear: Bandung must be comfortable to live in before it is promoted as beautiful. The city cannot be friendly only to visitors, but also fair for its own residents,’ he stressed. Farhan notes the year has also been a reminder that building a city is never free from tests. Amid development work and public services, public trust is tested by dynamics touching ethics and integrity of government. In such circumstances, the government should not be defensive, nor reckless. ‘The principle is simple: respect the legal process, uphold institutional accountability and ensure services to residents continue without interruption. Government integrity is not defined by the absence of problems, but by how we respond when problems arise,’ he said. Willing to be corrected Farhan emphasised that public trust cannot be built with rhetoric. It grows from openness and consistency. Therefore, his administration is working to strengthen transparency, including in local budgets and public decision-making. The city government must not be allergic to questions. In the digital era, trust is built through data, honest explanations and willingness to be corrected. ‘I choose the word “merawat” (to nurture/care for) to describe Bandung’s leadership direction. The city is not merely a collection of projects, but a living space to share. To nurture means paying attention to the small things, listening to the weak and fixing what is broken, bit by bit but consistently,’ he added. The first year, for Farhan, is a phase of learning and laying foundations. The years ahead must be a phase of acceleration, with a commitment to humane public services, a sustainable environment, an inclusive economy and clean governance. Bandung will never be completed by the mayor and officials alone. The city lives and moves thanks to its people. Therefore, he invites all Bandung residents to continue to engage, to monitor and to care for the city together. The past year has been not about claims of success but about responsibility to keep learning. ‘Bandung we love is not only a heritage but a trust for future generations. Our task today is to nurture it together so that Bandung truly grows as a PRIME CITY—outstanding in quality of life, open in governance, entrusted in leadership, always moving forward, and rooted in the living values of the religious people who inhabit this city,’ Farhan affirmed.