PDI-P to Mediate Between Lebak Regent and Deputy Regent Amid Heated Public Exchanges
PDI Perjuangan’s Deputy Chairman Andreas Hugo Pareira has highlighted the public exchanges between Lebak Regent Hasbi Asyidiki Jayabaya and Deputy Regent Amir Hamzah, which have become a topic of discussion. As one of the parties that supported this pair in the 2024 regional elections, PDI-P will bring the conflicting parties together.
“The party’s Government Division will invite them to meet so as not to waste time and energy on public sniping,” Andreas told reporters on Tuesday (31/3/2026).
Andreas stated that both officials should focus on serving the people. It is known that Lebak Regent Hasbi Asyidiki is a PDI-P cadre.
“Focus on managing Lebak’s public interests,” he said.
Separately, the PDI Perjuangan Banten Provincial Board will also summon the Lebak Regent and Deputy Regent. PDI-P Banten urges them to reconcile.
“I have instructed the District Board Chairman to contact both of them, the Regent and the Deputy Regent. The main point is to reconcile. I don’t know who is wrong or right, I don’t know that. The important thing is that once they are public officials, it is not personal property, but belongs to the people,” said Banten PDI-P Chairman Ade Sumardi to reporters.
According to Ade, the conflict between Hasbi and Amir harms Lebak’s society. For him, the people of Lebak need development.
“Because the people need it, they need development everywhere, right? There must be solidarity. It’s impossible to develop the region if there is no solidarity between the leaders,” he said.
Ade likened the regent and deputy regent to a husband and wife who must be harmonious.
“That’s why they must eliminate their egos. What matters is how to build a good household. Both of them, I don’t blame either one. Both must clear the air, make peace, and attend to the people according to their political promises. That is obligatory,” he said.
It is known that Amir Hamzah was angry due to the statement by Lebak Regent Hasbi Asyidiki Jayabaya, which alluded to his past as a former convict. He considered Hasbi’s statement as an insult.
“When he (Hasbi) mentioned, for example, Amir the former convict ‘uyuhan geus jadi wakil bupati geh’ (it’s better a former convict becomes deputy regent). Well, that’s a personal insult, that’s why I stood up from sitting, to tell the Regent not to speak like that,” said Amir.
Amir emphasised that Hasbi’s statement during the halal bihalal event at the Lebak Regency Government was not related to his position as deputy regent. He stressed feeling humiliated by the statement.
“I felt humiliated at that time because in public he spoke personally, and it had no relation to work, that’s why I spontaneously wanted to warn him,” he said.
Amir deemed the statement inappropriate. Amir said the statement could politically harm Hasbi.
“If I continue to carry out my duties, what needs attention is the regent’s character; in my opinion, such behaviour is politically damaging, damaging to the regent,” he said on Tuesday (31/3).
Amir then alluded to Hasbi’s failure to become a DPR member in the previous legislative election. He also brought up the success in becoming Lebak Regent due to the contribution of Hasbi’s father, Mulyadi Jayabaya or JB.
“The Regent must remember not to feel victorious because of himself; he must remember, the Regent lost as a DPR candidate last time; this (winning the election) is a factor of JB (Jayabaya) and me,” he added.