West Java Governor Dedi Mulyadi plans to expand the scope of the character education program that has so far targeted problematic students. In the future, this program will also reach adults who often disturb the community. This training program will be implemented at the National Defense Education Center of Rindam III/Siliwangi, with a semi-military approach. According to Dedi, this step was taken because of public concern about various acts of thuggery and other disturbances that have an impact on the investment climate.
“Look, there is a prayer thing. If they behave criminally, then the legal process will continue. Then there are efforts that can be made against those who do not have criminal elements but are disturbing, namely being taken to the military barracks after the national defense program for children’s discipline education is completed,” said Dedi in his statement, Sunday (10/5/2025).
Although training for troubled residents will only begin in June 2025, the West Java Provincial Government is currently still focusing on programs for students. However, preparations for the wave of adults have been completed.
Hopefully in June we will start walking. So naughty young adults who are thugs, who want to be thugs, drunkards, troublemakers, disturbing markets, intersections, disturbing investment,” he said.
Dedi also touched on the issue of responsibility towards the families of program participants. The provincial government will provide solutions so that the families left behind can survive economically.
Later we will send them to military barracks. But there are families left behind, so for those who come out and take part in education, we tell them to work. So they become construction workers, porters, hoe workers, then we give them wages, send them to their families,” he explained.
Dedi added that training with a semi-military approach is expected to break the chain of crime that is actually growing when someone is serving a light sentence.
“Then if the crime is light, if sentenced to prison, sentenced to 6 months, as long as they steal chickens, they will end up stealing cows. They will even become smart. Well, this must be resolved immediately,” he said.
In order for the program to run optimally, Dedi stated that he would collaborate with various parties, including police officers from all regencies/cities in West Java.
“That’s why later I will cooperate with the West Java Regional Police, with the Metro Police, and the Police in all regencies/cities to later net adults who will enter the TNI training center, later we will prepare the work,” he said.