A recent survey by the Indonesian Survey Institute (Lembaga Survei Indonesia / LSI) shows that the majority of the public holds a positive view of the West Java Provincial Government’s performance across various sectors. However, economic observers and business players argue that this outcome does not align with the reality of widespread layoffs and millions of residents trapped in poverty.

 

LSI announced its survey findings on Thursday (July 23, 2026). The survey was conducted from July 2–9, 2026, involving 800 respondents living in West Java.

 

Respondents were at least 17 years old or married at the time of the survey. They were selected using a multistage random sampling method across 27 regencies and cities in West Java.

 

With this sample size, the survey carries a margin of error of approximately ±3.5% at a 95% confidence level. Data collection was conducted through face-to-face interviews by trained interviewers.

 

The survey findings show that the public evaluated the West Java Provincial Government’s performance positively across multiple sectors. Satisfaction levels exceeded 50% in all surveyed aspects, including infrastructure and basic services.

 

Meanwhile, the economic sector received the lowest satisfaction score, although it was still generally appreciated. The majority of respondents rated West Java's economic condition in the moderate category at 44.3%. Meanwhile, 27% of residents rated the economy as good, and 28.3% rated it as poor.

 

Regarding public administration, the West Java Provincial Government received positive scores. 60.2% of respondents rated governance performance as good to very good, 30.4% rated it as moderate, and 8.1% rated it as poor to very poor.

 

The survey also revealed that 95.4% of respondents were satisfied with the performance of West Java Governor Dedi Mulyadi. In contrast, the satisfaction rate for Vice Governor Erwan Setiawan trailed significantly behind Dedi at 59.1%.

Disconnect from Field Realities
Academic and economic observer from Pasundan University Bandung, Acuviarta Kartabi, stated on Friday (July 24, 2026) that the high level of public satisfaction with the provincial government and governor represents an anomaly when compared to conditions on the ground.

 

According to him, high unemployment rates, poverty issues, widespread layoffs, and weak public purchasing power do not reflect significant economic recovery.

 

Data from the West Java Central Statistics Agency (BPS) indicates that 1.77 million people in the province were still unemployed as of November 2025. Meanwhile, the poverty rate in West Java stood at 6.78%, or approximately 3.55 million people.

 

Throughout 2025, Ministry of Manpower data recorded 18,815 workers laid off in West Java. From January to May 2026 alone, another 5,044 workers faced layoffs in the province.

 

"The survey results should be viewed as an indicator of public perception rather than a complete picture of real conditions. Therefore, these findings need to be cross-checked with objective data such as poverty figures, job creation, and the effectiveness of inflation control programs," he explained.

 

Chairman of the Indonesian Hotel and Restaurant Association (PHRI) West Java, Dodi Ahmad Sofiandi, revealed that West Java's hospitality sector continues to face challenging conditions. Hotel occupancy rates, for instance, remain stagnant and even tend to decline.

 

He noted that ceremonial local government events and long holiday periods amidst the current economic climate have been unable to push hotel occupancy up to 70%. Currently, there are 550 registered members of PHRI West Java, covering both restaurants and hotels.

 

"The number of our members has dropped drastically from 1,495 down to just 550. Occupancy rates for budget hotels (hotel melati) stand at only 25%, while star-rated hotels reach a maximum of 60%," Dodi revealed.

 

Personality Factor
Executive Director of LSI, Djayadi Hanan, explained that high public satisfaction with the West Java Governor is driven not only by performance evaluations of the government, but also by Dedi Mulyadi’s personality as a regional leader.

 

According to him, three main factors shape positive public perception. First, the majority of residents view economic conditions as moderate or fair. Second, the administration of the West Java Provincial Government is rated positively by most respondents.

 

Third, the public favorably evaluates various government programs and services, ranging from infrastructure, education, and health to cooperative empowerment.

 

"As a recommendation, the government needs to step up by introducing targeted programs for those feeling the economic strain the most, specifically the middle and lower-income classes," he concluded.

 

[Source]