Reviewing Jeje "Govinda's" Achievements in First Year as West Bandung Regent
WEST BANDUNG – Jeje Ritchie Ismail and Asep Ismail have completed one year leading West Bandung Regency (KBB) in West Java as Regent and Vice Regent. In their inaugural year of leadership, Regent Jeje presented the administration’s accomplishments.
Jeje, a musician and drummer for the band Govinda, transitioned to politics in 2024. He is the brother-in-law of artist and Presidential Special Envoy for Youth Development and Arts Promotion Raffi Ahmad. Asep Ismail is the former head of the West Bandung office of the Ministry of Religious Affairs.
As a new local leadership pair, Jeje-Asep Ismail adopted the vision of West Bandung Amanah (Religious, Progressive, Adaptive, Comfortable, Aspirational, and Harmonious), incorporated into the Regional Medium-Term Development Plan (RPJMD) 2025-2029 to establish sustainable and measured development foundations. Jeje stated that during the first year leading West Bandung, several macro indicators demonstrated positive trends throughout 2025. The Human Development Index (HDI) increased to 71.65 points, whilst health insurance coverage through subsidised insurance schemes reached approximately 95 per cent of the population.
“Poverty rates have fallen to 9.87 per cent, and open unemployment rates have decreased to 6.6 per cent,” Jeje said when confirmed on Monday (2 March 2026).
The West Bandung Regency Government, according to Jeje, strengthened infrastructure and settlements. During 2025, 19 road segments totalling 28 kilometres were improved, along with 176 housing units outside slum areas and 101 units within slum areas. Slum area revitalisation covering 26.04 hectares was also undertaken.
In education, the West Bandung Regency Government under Jeje-Asep rehabilitated 82 primary schools (SD) and 16 junior secondary schools (SMP). Healthcare services were enhanced through rehabilitation of Lembang General Hospital and Cikalongwetan General Hospital, improvements to 35 community health centres (Puskesmas), and procurement of 644 health equipment units.