West Java DPRD Prepares Public Consultation on Proposed 'Tatar Sunda' Province Name

The West Java Regional People’s Representative Council (DPRD) is preparing to hold a public consultation to follow up on the proposal to change the province’s name to Tatar Sunda, which has already been given the ‘green light’. This was stated by the Chairperson of Commission I of the West Java DPRD, Rahmat Hidayat Djati, in response to the pros and cons surrounding the proposed name change, including objections from cultural groups and residents of the Pantura region such as Cirebon and Indramayu. Rahmat assured that the DPRD will not discuss the proposal unilaterally. All elements of society, including groups with differing views, will be involved in the process of drafting the academic paper and public consultation. According to him, public involvement is crucial to ensure the proposal for the name change has a strong academic foundation and public aspiration before a decision is made. ‘Of course, the DPRD will refine the academic paper, hold public consultations in all districts/cities, and possibly conduct a survey involving the 120 DPRD members,’ he said on Monday (6/7), as quoted from detikJabar. Rahmat said the discussion process is still lengthy. Following a working meeting between Commission I and the proposing team some time ago, the DPRD is currently formulating a discussion scheme that will serve as the basis for the DPRD leadership’s decision-making. He added that on Tuesday (7/7), Commission I of the West Java DPRD will create a process scheme for consideration by the council leadership. Previously, quoting from detikJabar, concerns were raised by some parties who felt the proposed name ‘Province of Sunda’ would not represent the cultural diversity present in West Java. Responding to this, Rahmat asserted that no area in West Java lies outside the scope of Tatar Sunda. He stressed that all areas in West Java are Sundanese territory. ‘There is no non-Sunda area. Everything within the current scope of West Java Province is Sunda territory,’ said Rahmat.