*POLITICAL EFFORT OF THE FORUM FOR THE STRUGGLE FOR THE EXPANSION OF WEST INDRAMAYU REGENCY IN AN AUDIENCE WITH THE DPR RI*
By: H. Adlan Daie
Political Analyst, General Secretary of the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI), Indramayu Regency.
It was indeed somewhat quiet from the sensational political uproar when activists fighting for the expansion of “West Indramayu” Regency, along with the Regional Coordination Forum for the Acceleration of the Formation of New Autonomous Regions (DOB) in West Java, held an audience with the DPR RI (Monday, May 18, 2026).
The written political support provided by the National Awakening Party (PKB) faction of the DPR RI and a DPD RI senator from West Java province (quoted from the media “belarakyat”, May 22, 2026) was a significant effort to rekindle growing hopes for the imagination and ideals of realizing the “West Indramayu” regency.
This is “effort,” a long, tireless struggle, despite being overshadowed by promises of “ngedabrus” (transactional politics) across Indramayu’s political regimes, to convey the message that their struggle cannot be read as merely a game of “transactional politics” every election and regional head election season.
This is more about the spirit of struggle and the call to seek regional “justice,” about the future of the new autonomous region of “West Indramayu Regency,” which for years, to quote Bend Anderson, “was folded in their collective imagination” for an undying ideal.
The spirit of the struggle for proportional regional “justice” mentioned above is crucial, given how, without this spirit of justice, for example, Sentot Hospital, located in Patrol District, part of West Indramayu, was so easily about to be transferred from “regency property” to West Java province, simply because of budget constraints, mismanagement, etc.
The above perspective, which merely views Sentot Hospital as an “asset” that provides no benefit to the region, is a manifestation of the state/regional government attempting to trade with its citizens. It does not place the Indramayu Regency government’s responsibility to protect the health of its citizens—in the context of the Sentot Hospital location, clearly for the residents of West Indramayu.
Therefore, the option to transfer the function of Sentot Hospital to the West Java provincial government can be interpreted as viewing the residents of West Indramayu as “second-class citizens,” not a significant regional responsibility, and thus easily shifting the burden to West Java when funding difficulties arise. The pain lies here!
In the author’s perspective, no community component is harmed by the expedited expansion of West Indramayu Regency; in fact, it will accelerate the improvement of the Human Development Index (HDI) and public services, except for those who feel they have lost control over the establishment of West Indramayu Regency.
At the very least, within the context of these three HDI variables, the people of West Indramayu receive a fairer share of the accelerated improvement in average education standards, health quality, purchasing power, and a more accessible, efficient, measurable, and clearly more productive span of public services.
Therefore, their right step in their struggle is to hold audiences to gain political support from the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI) and the Regional People’s Representative Council (DPRD RI) to “push” for the lifting of the “moratorium” on expansion as a way to accelerate the formation of the new autonomous region of West Indramayu Regency.
In the context of Indramayu, it is crucial to “demand” the Indramayu Regent and DPRD’s seriousness in allocating the budget for the preparation of the new autonomous region of West Indramayu Regency. The political struggle for the expansion of West Indramayu Regency will be futile if there is minimal support from the “parent” Indramayu Regency.
The future of
West Indramayu, which, according to studies by several development technocrats, will progress faster than the “parent” regency in the next 10 years, will be “shattered” if the “parent” regency’s support stops at the “zero kilometer” monument and doesn’t move on to the next “kilometers.”
Above all, like the intellectual spirit of Sutan Takdir Alihsyahbana, “the sail has been raised.” The author certainly gives encouragement to activists fighting for the expansion of West Indramayu. Maximum effort will not betray optimal results. History will guide us.**
Resalam.
Indramayu, May 22, 2026
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