PRIME NEWS POST

The INDONESIAN , (Jakarta)– The name Elhan Zakaria, a young Sundanese figure active in social movements and national cooperatives, has once again gained attention after he was directly involved in a humanitarian mission to Nagari Maligi, Sasak Ranah Pasisie District, West Pasaman Regency, West Sumatra – an area isolated for five days due to a disaster.

In viral social media reports, Elhan was confirmed to have joined Basyaruddin, the National Chairman of IKTN (Indonesian Artisanal Mining Cooperatives Association), the Chairman of West Pasaman Artisanal Mining Cooperative, police personnel, district government officials, joint volunteers, and was supported by Basarnas (National Search and Rescue Agency) using the agency’s vessel to deliver aid.

“Yes, that’s correct. We went together, supported by Basarnas, using their ship to deliver aid to Maligi,” Elhan said when confirmed by phone.

A young politician from Ciamis with strong ties to Sundanese cultural values, Elhan comes from the Panjalu lineage and is one of the leaders of the Sundanese Consultative Assembly (Majelis Musyawarah Sunda). Internationally, he has been cited as a former agent of the BVI Monetary Fund and has served as Asia-Pacific Investment Director at Nusantara Holding Limited.

Known for his simple lifestyle, Elhan continues to be active in strengthening cooperatives, socio-economics, and cultural preservation. His name also briefly emerged as a potential candidate for Ciamis Regent in the 2024 Regional Elections, though the issue was never addressed seriously.

Regarding the proposal to rename West Java Province to Sunda Province, Elhan expressed a reflective yet enthusiastic stance. “That’s a hope. We can hope for it. But more than that, the Sundanese people are fighting. What’s clear is that we Sundanese shouldn’t stay silent, shouldn’t keep giving in – we must dare to be at the forefront,” he stated.

He also shared his views on Ciamis’ history, as the region was formerly known as Galuh (meaning silver pearl or core of life). “Personally, I actually prefer it if Ciamis Regency goes back to using the name Galuh Regency,” Elhan concluded.

Editorial Note:
Reported by the PRIME NEWS POST correspondent, compiled from various media sources. Photo: documentation / public archive