Provincial Leadership Responds to Proposal to Rename West Java to Tatar Sunda
The Deputy Governor of West Java, Erwan Setiawan, has spoken out regarding the discourse to change the province’s name to ‘Tatar Sunda’, following an audience held by the proposing group with Commission I of the West Java Regional House of Representatives (DPRD) recently.
Citing reports, amidst emerging support from several cultural figures, the proposal has also drawn criticism from various quarters. Those criticising the name change proposal primarily consist of various layers of society, cultural activists in the Pantura region, and groups who believe the government should focus more on resolving issues related to the economy, education, the environment, and infrastructure.
Responding to the controversy, Erwan chose not to provide a direct assessment. He emphasised that the matter is still in the process stage and falls under the authority of the Governor of West Java, Dedi Mulyadi.
According to Erwan, the entire discussion process should be respected without being reacted to excessively.
“I leave it entirely to the Governor, as it is the Governor who holds the policy-making authority,” Ersaan said at the West Java DPRD Building on Tuesday (7/7).
Erwan stated that the public should also be given space to express their views on the proposal. This is because, as of now, the renaming of West Java Province remains a discourse in progress and has not become an official decision.
“We are simply in a process. The public can judge the responses themselves, as this is still ongoing,” he remarked.
Therefore, he invited all parties to follow the ongoing stages without creating excessive controversy. Erwan also emphasised that he did not wish to make statements that exceeded his authority as Deputy Governor.
“So, there is no need to respond too excessively. We shall just follow it. It is entirely up to the Governor,” he said.
“I cannot provide responses that exceed my capacity as Deputy Governor,” Erwan added.
Previously, the discourse to change the name of West Java Province to Tatar Sunda entered a new phase after all factions in the West Java DPRD officially gave the green light to proceed with the proposal to the next legislative stage on Thursday (2/7).
The green light was given during an audience between Commission I of the West Java DPRD and several academics, cultural experts, and Sundanese historians, after the movement had previously faded in 2013, 2015, and 2020.
“The factions of Demokrat, PKB, PKS, PAN, PDIP, Golkar, and PPP have stated their agreement to proceed to the next legislative stage for the change of the West Java Province name. Meanwhile, Gerindra and Nasdem have expressed their intention to follow along,” said the Chairman of Commission I of the West Java DPRD, Rahmat Hidayat Djati, after leading the meeting.
Rahmat explained that the proposal to change the provincial name has actually been discussed in several meetings. However, it was only on this occasion that all faction representatives were present in full to officially convey their political stance.
A Professor at Padjadjaran University (Unpad) and part of the proposing research team, Ganjar Kurnia, asserted that the name change to Tatar Sunda holds profound historical, sociological, cultural, and psychological value to safeguard the Sundanese identity, which is increasingly marginalised by administrative approaches.
Based on historical records, the territory of Tatar Sunda once stretched widely from Banten and Jakarta to Cipamali (the Tegal area) on the border of Central Java.
“Historically, Jakarta was part of the Sundanese territory administratively. Banten was also a Sundanese region, and history shows that Tatar Sunda extended from Banten to Cipamali, which is part of Central Java,” said Ganjar.
Ganjar dismissed concerns regarding administrative complexity or the potential for other regions to secede. He cited the successful renaming of Ujung Pandang to Makassar as an example of a common bureaucratic procedure.