Dedi Mulyadi, an Odd Leader Who Reshaped Bureaucracy
Author, AbahRoy
Dedi Mulyadi is not just an official, but a political phenomenon who changed the way of leadership in West Java.
With an unusual approach, he removed the barriers between the people and the authorities, changing policies that often felt elitist into real actions that directly touched the lives of the common people.
As a leader, he was more like
“an ordinary citizen who happened to have power” than a conventional official.
He did not wait for reports from his subordinates, but instead went into the field himself, seeing, hearing, and solving problems on the spot.
This attitude made him loved by the people, but also created dislike among bureaucrats who were accustomed to long protocols and complicated administration.
His policies were often unexpected.
From paying pedicab drivers to providing houses for the poor, everything was done quickly, without much ceremony. He changed the way the government worked: from being a planner and regulator to being a direct executor in the field. However, this method also drew criticism. Some consider his steps as populism, an image strategy for the sake of electability.
However, regardless of the controversy, one thing cannot be denied: Dedi Mulyadi has presented a different face of leadership.
He proved that officials can be close to the people without having to lose their authority.
He challenged the slow bureaucratic system with his speed of action, he surprised other officials, while the people felt heard.
In the midst of politics that often seem far from the reality of society, Dedi Mulyadi is an anomaly.
Whether we like him or not, his actions have changed people’s expectations about what a leader should be like.
Cirebon, 03/14/2025
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