Tina Wiryawati Urges Young People Not to Abandon Sundanese Culture
KUNINGAN — Tina Wiryawati, a member of the West Java Regional Representative Council, has called on young Indonesians to continue protecting and preserving Sundanese culture amid increasingly strong currents of modernisation. She made these remarks during a culture-based community engagement event in Kuningan Regency.
During the activity, Tina not only engaged in dialogue with residents but also showcased Sundanese cultural elements through various expressions of local tradition.
According to her, a cultural approach is an effective way to strengthen the relationship between elected representatives and society whilst fostering pride in ancestral heritage.
Tina believes that today’s young generation faces significant challenges from globalisation and rapid technological development. On one hand, these advances bring many benefits.
However, on the other hand, if not approached wisely, they could cause young people to gradually distance themselves from their own cultural roots. “Sundanese culture is our identity. We must not allow young people to lose their identity simply by becoming too immersed in foreign cultures,” Tina said on Monday, 16 March 2026.
She stressed that culture is not merely a symbol or ceremonial tradition, but rather life values passed down from generation to generation. Values such as silih asih (mutual affection), silih asah (mutual refinement), and silih asuh (mutual care), she said, represent the noble philosophy of Sundanese society that must be maintained in daily life.
Through this culture-based community engagement event, Tina hopes that society, particularly young people, will increasingly love and understand their regional culture. She also encourages more cultural activities to be held within communities, at both village and regency levels.
According to Tina, cultural preservation cannot rely solely on the government or arts communities, but requires active participation from all layers of society. Young people, she said, have an important role as successors who will maintain the continuity of Sundanese traditions and cultural values in the future.
She also believes that Sundanese culture has significant potential to be developed as both a social force and a creative economy sector. Various forms of traditional art, distinctive cuisine, and regional language can become a source of pride whilst offering opportunities for tourism sector development.
“If our culture is strong, our identity is strong. Culture can even be an extraordinary attraction for our region,” Tina said.
During the event, Tina also called on parents and community leaders to work together to instil love for Sundanese culture in children from an early age. According to her, cultural education does not only take place in schools, but must also begin in family and community settings.
She hopes that young people in West Java will not feel ashamed to speak the Sundanese language, learn traditional arts, and understand local wisdom values that form part of community life.
“Sundanese culture must not become merely a story of the past. We must ensure that this culture remains alive and is passed on to future generations,” she said.
Through activities that prioritise a cultural approach, Tina hopes that the relationship between society and local traditional values will strengthen, so that Sundanese culture continues to be preserved and remains a source of pride for West Java society amid changing times.