West Java Legislator: Sundanese Cultural Festival Does Not Align with History
Bandung (ANTARA) - Member of Commission V of the West Java DPRD, Maulana Yusuf Erwinsyah, has criticised the Sundanese Cultural Festival, which is scheduled to be held by the West Java Provincial Government in nine regencies/cities from 2 to 18 May 2026, because he believes it does not align with history (is ahistorical).
According to Maulana in Bandung on Friday (15 May), the series of events is only based on the designation of 18 May, which refers to an event in 669 AD.
However, he said, there is no clear reference to explain why the series of events should be held for 16 days.
He also believes that the series of events is inconsistent with the history of Sunda because it starts in Sumedang and ends in the city of Bandung, involving only nine regencies/cities.
“This is the same as teaching the wrong Sundanese history to the people of West Java. And the government is obliged to correct that,” said Maulana.
He said he had conveyed the criticism in a plenary session of the West Java DPRD on 11 May 2026, which was also attended by the Governor of West Java, Dedi Mulyadi.
He asked the provincial government to be transparent in accounting for the use of the event’s budget, which comes from public taxes.
According to Maulana, the event’s budget is estimated at IDR 2.7 billion for only four regencies.
“What about the other five regencies/cities, is that from their own regional budgets?” he asked.
Maulana also questioned the statement by local governments that the event does not use the regional budget (APBD), but on the other hand, it is acknowledged that it is included in the government’s planning.
According to him, this is contrary to the principles of state financial management as regulated in Law Number 17 of 2003 concerning State Finances and other related regulations.
Furthermore, Maulana believes that the celebration lacks empathy for the people of West Java who are still facing problems of poverty, education, health, and post-disaster recovery.
“The provincial government should focus on improving itself in the face of the previous year’s assessment document, namely the LKPJ,” he said, referring to the Accountability Report.
Therefore, Maulana suggested that the event be temporarily stopped and evaluated by involving Sundanese history experts.
He also proposed the preparation of a book on Sundanese history and West Java that can be used as a reference for learning for students and the general public.
“Let our children and the people of West Java in the future love Sundanese history and culture with a clear reference, not born from someone’s blind love for Sunda itself,” he said.
The Sundanese Cultural Festival is scheduled to enter its final stage on 16 May 2026 in the city of Bandung with the agenda of a procession of the Binokasih crown and a cultural parade from 27 regencies/cities in West Java.
The Sundanese Day will be commemorated every 18 May starting in 2026 in accordance with the West Java Governor’s Regulation Number 13 of 2026 concerning the Implementation of Sundanese Day.