Arteria Dahlan's Journey Of Controversy, Criticizing "Sundanese Language", Finally Apologizing, And Party Sanctions

Arteria Dahlan apologized to the Sundanese people in front of the Secretary General of the DPP PDIP Hasto Kristiyanto, and the chairman of the DPP PDIP Komarudin Watubun/PR PDIP

JAKARTA - Member of Commission III of the DPR RI from the PDIP faction, Arteria Dahlan, has again drawn controversy for his statement asking Attorney General ST Burhanuddin to remove the Head of the High Prosecutor's Office (Kajati) because during a meeting at the DPR he used Sundanese in the Working Meeting, Monday, January 17.

His statement later became a polemic because it was considered to hurt the hearts of the people of West Java, especially the Sundanese.

The Arteria issue has been in the spotlight of various parties, from the governor of West Java, the people of West Java and the Sundanese, the PDIP faction of the DPR to the PDIP DPP.

So, how is the journey of the Arteria Dahlan controversy in this matter?

West Java Governor's Attention

West Java Governor Ridwan Kamil requested that Member of Commission III of the DPR from PDIP Arteria Dahlan to immediately apologize to the Sundanese people living in various regions throughout the archipelago.

"So I urge Mr. Arteria Dahlan to apologize to the Sundanese people in the archipelago, but if this is not done it will definitely escalate because the Sundanese are actually forgiving people, so I hope it will be done," said Ridwan Kamil in his statement, Wednesday, January 19.

Kang Emil as Ridwan Kamil is called, assessed that the statement made by Arteria Dahlan had hurt the diversity of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia (NKRI). The reason, he said, is that the Sundanese actually have the nature of compassion, success, care, success.

"In my opinion, wealth, diversity is why Pancasila Bhinneka Tunggal Ika represents that spirit. So if there are racists like that, in my opinion, they must be reminded carefully, of course," he said.

Emil, Ridwan Kamil's nickname, has also responded to Arteria's apology by uploading it to his personal social media account, Thursday, January 20.

"Alhamdulillah, he has conveyed his apology to the Sundanese people this afternoon," Emil wrote.

Reported by Sundanese Indigenous People

The Sundanese Customary Council reported Arteria Dahlan regarding the removal of the Sundanese Kajati to the West Java Police Headquarters, Soekarno-Hatta Street, Bandung City, Thursday, January 20. The reporter makes a report to the West Java Police SPKT but still has to coordinate with the West Java Police General Criminal Investigation Directorate.

"Today, we report brother Arteria Dahlan, a member of the Indonesian House of Representatives who has stated in the viral news that he removed the head of the High Court who spoke in Sundanese," said Pupuhu Agung of the Sundanese Customary Council Keratuan Council Ari Mulia Sebagja at the West Java Police Headquarters, Thursday, January 20.

Ari said that the statement by the member of Commission III of the DPR RI from the PDIP faction was considered to have offended the Sundanese people. Even not only the Sundanese people, but other tribes also considered Arteria's statement painful.

"This is what hurts the Sundanese, our brothers from other regions also feel offended, today maybe the bad luck befalls the Sundanese again, being treated like that. It is possible that in the future other ethnic groups will do the same thing," he said.

According to Ari, Arteria's statement is considered a blasphemy against the tribe. So, he emphasized, Arteria should have been reported to the police.

Arteria Dahlan is considered to have violated the constitution Article 32 paragraph 2. Arteria is also considered to have violated Law Number 5 of 2017 whose derivatives have caused trouble, unrest, and unpleasant actions, including the ITE Law.

"In essence, it is a violation of the constitution, there is Article 32 paragraph 2 which must maintain regional languages, not ban regional languages. Yesterday the incident in the DPR RI violated Article 32 of the Constitution, this is the basis for us to report Arteria Dahlan to the West Java Police," said Ari.

It's just that, even though Arteria has apologized, the Sundanese Customary Council continues to report and is still in the process.

Had refused to apologize

Arteria had refused to apologize because he judged that there was nothing wrong with his statement.

If I'm wrong, it's clear that the mechanism is in the MKD. Is my statement wrong?" asked Arteria at the DPR Building, Jakarta, Wednesday, January 19.

According to Arteria, Indonesia has a democratic culture. So he doesn't have a problem if there are parties who are not happy with his statement.

“But let me also state that. It's a bother, if a member of the DPR suddenly looks like this. We have the mechanism, we have the channels. And I can prove that what I said was not meant to discredit," he said

Arteria said there was no intention to discredit the ranks of the Attorney General's Office. The statement, according to him, is simply to ensure that there is no Sunda Empire in the Attorney General's Office.

That is, not the Sunda Empire case in the previous case, but a term that describes as if Kajati took her position because she was of Sundanese ethnicity like the Attorney General.

"That they were chosen because they have competence, integrity, capacity, and capability as owners or holders of strategic positions in the Attorney General's Office. That's all," he added.

"That's why I will be really angry when we convince the public that there is no Sunda Empire, suddenly there are 1-2 prosecutors who, instead of looking for faces, try to show their closeness in such ways," he continued.

He also asked the public to pay close attention to his statement which is now reaping contra from many parties.

"I also want to be looked at properly. Moreover, 15 minutes of my content material, I'm sure there will be many who don't like it, so if you look at all the videos, see the statement," concluded Arteria.

Finally Apologize

Member of the Indonesian House of Representatives Arteria Dahlan finally apologized to the people of West Java, after mentioning the Sundanese language during a working meeting with the Attorney General's Office.

Arteria's statement asking the AGO to remove Kajati for speaking Sundanese at the meeting received serious attention from the Governor of West Java, Ridwan Kamil.

"I sincerely apologize to the people of West Java, especially the Sundanese people for my statement some time ago," said Arteria at the PDIP DPP Office, Menteng, Jakarta, Thursday, January 20.

Arteria's apology was conveyed in front of the Secretary-General of the DPP PDIP Hasto Kristiyanto, and the chairman of the DPP PDIP Komarudin Watubun. Arteria regretted his attitude and left this polemic completely to the Party's DPP.

"As a Party Cadre, I am ready to accept the sanctions given by the Party. I have learned from this issue, and thank you for all the criticisms given to me, it will certainly be an input for me to do better," said Teri, Arteria's nickname.

The East Java legislator also promised to be more effective in communicating. He admitted that he would focus more on fighting for justice for the community, especially in fighting the drug mafia, land mafia, mining mafia, fertilizer mafia, port/airport/sea mafia, food and fuel mafia, and various other law enforcement efforts.

"I will work more silently but achieve the goal of law enforcement. Thank you again for all the criticism and input given to me," said Arteria.

Not only to the DPP, Arteria also clarified his statement to the PDIP Faction of the DPR RI.

"I have no intention, no intention, no purpose to discredit, to humiliate our Sundanese family. To discredit the Sundanese language and West Java society in general," said Arteria in the PDIP Faction Room, Thursday, January 20.

In yesterday's meeting, Arteria admitted that he intended to remind Kajati regarding the national language to make it easier to understand. Without intending to connect with certain tribes, but based on their competence, capacity, and capability.

"(In the meeting, ed) 15 minutes, all for the prosecutor's office, all praise, good for the prosecutor's agency. This is a bit of criticism to the kajati, so it's not what the Sundanese are talking about," he explained.

The PDIP politician said he did not want to prolong the misunderstanding. Arteria said yesterday's statement was only an opinion so that no one would feel that it was due to ethnic closeness.

"Regarding this, I apologize profusely to all community members, to all community leaders, traditional leaders, religious leaders, youth leaders, all of them, because I consider the Sudanese people to be part of our big family. My friends, my friends are many. really, especially since Jakarta is bordered by West Java," said Arteria.

"I apologize for my statement. And we also make sure there is no intention at all to humiliate, hurt our Sundanese family," he continued.

Arteria said that he had also been asked for clarification by the PDIP DPP. On Thursday today, at 11.00 - 12.00 WIB, he has met the secretary-general of PDIP and the chairman of the party's honorary council. After that, the faction leader asked for clarification.

"Essentially, I apologize, and then this statement that might make noise is purely from me personally as a member of the DPR in carrying out supervisory duties. It has nothing to do with our faction or party and certainly, there is no intention to be racist or demean the Sundanese language or ethnicity," said Arteria.

DPP PDIP Gives Sanctions

The Central Leadership Council of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (DPP PDIP) has issued a warning to a member of the PDIP faction of the DPR RI, Arteria Dahlan, for his statement which was deemed to have violated party ethics and discipline. It is known that Arteria's statement regarding the removal of the head of the High Prosecutor's Office (Kajati) who spoke Sundanese during the meeting sparked a polemic.

"The warning sanction letter was signed by the Secretary-General and I as the Honorary Chair of the DPP," said Komaruddin Watubun, at the PDIP DPP Office, Menteng, Central Jakarta, Thursday, January 20.

Komaruddin said that the PDIP DPP received various reports and read reports in the media, including from party supporters in West Java who felt disturbed and uncomfortable with Arteria's statement, who was sitting as a member of the Commission III of the DPR.

Komaruddin asserted that what Arteria Dahlan had conveyed in terms of the party organization and the party's assessment had violated organizational ethics and discipline.

"In a clarification with the DPP today, Mr. Arteria apologized to the people of West Java, especially the Sundanese people. He also gave it completely to the party's DPP," he said.

As a party cadre, explained Komaruddin, Arteria was ready to accept the sanctions given by the PDIP DPP.

"So the party's DPP gave him a warning sanction. Hopefully this will be a lesson for Mr. Arteria," explained Komaruddin.

Meanwhile, PDIP Secretary General Hasto Kristiyanto reminded Arteria Dahlan that Indonesia was built with the spirit of national unity, without making any distinctions between ethnicity, religion, gender, social status and various other distinctions.

“Indonesian spirit for all. Indonesia with the spirit of the nation Pancasila that was kindled by Bung Karno. Even Bung Karno carried out his ideological contemplation and formulated it on Bumi Parahayangan when he met Mr. Marhaen and then finalized his Pancasila conception after being exiled to Ende and Bengkulu," said Hasto.