Ridwan Kamil

Atalia Praratya

​

(m. 1996)​

Ridwan Kamil
Official portrait, 2018
15th Governor of West Java
In office 5 September 2018 –5 September 2023
Children	Emmeril Kahn Mumtadz (deceased) Camillia Laetitia Azzahra Arkana Aidan Misbach (adopted)
Parent(s)	Atje Misbach Muhjiddin Tjutju Sukaesih
Alma mater	Bandung Institute of Technology University of California, Berkeley

Mochamad Ridwan Kamil (born 4 October 1971), alternatively Kang Emil is an Indonesian architect and politician who was the 15th Governor of West Java, the largest (most populous) province of Indonesia. He was also the mayor of Bandung from 2013 to 2018. As an architect, he designed iconic structures in Indonesia and other countries in Asia with his Urbane architectural firm and lectured at the Department of Architecture, Bandung Institute of Technology.

Education

Kamil spent almost his entire life in Bandung where he went to public schools and studied architecture at Indonesia's leading state engineering school, the Bandung Institute of Technology. After obtaining his college degree, he went to the United States to apprentice at architectural firms before winning a scholarship in 1999 to study at the College of Environmental Design, University of California, Berkeley in the United States. He graduated in 2001 with a Master of Urban Design degree and work experience at a Berkeley government department. ^{[1] [2]} He obtained Doctor (honoris causa) in Public Administration degree from Dong-a University in 2019 for his role in developing dynamic governance system for West Java Province. ^{[3] [4]}

Professional career

After working as an architect in Hong Kong, in June 2004 Kamil and his partners founded Urbane, ^[5] an architecture firm based in Bandung, West Java. He introduced modern designs into his work that ranges from commercial buildings and university towers to museums and mosques. He is also known for creating open public spaces in crowded residential areas in Bandung as his pro bono work.

Awards

In 2006, Kamil was the winner of the British Council's Young Creative Entrepreneur Award, representing Indonesia in the International Young Design Entrepreneur of the Year award. ^[6]

Urbane Indonesia was listed in the BCI Asia Top 10 Awards from 2008 to 2010 and again in 2012. ^[7]

Projects

Kamil was the pioneer of the 'Indonesia Berkebun' (Gardening Indonesia) movement to build amateur gardens in the cities of Indonesia. ^[8] As of 2011 ^[update] the community project is established in fourteen cities in Indonesia, with membership approaching 4000. ^{[9] [10] [11]}

Kamil-designed Aceh Tsunami Museum

Kamil and Urbane Indonesia projects in Indonesia include

• Al Jabbar Grand Mosque in Bandung, ^[12]
• United Tractors office tower in Jakarta, ^[7]
• Al-Irsyad Mosque and Al-Irsyad Satya Islamic School in Bandung, ^[13]
• Aceh Tsunami Museum in Banda Aceh,
• Tarumanagara University Tower I and campus renovation in West Jakarta, ^[14] and
• Rasuna Epicentrum mall in South Jakarta ^[15]

International projects include

• Marina Bay, Singapore Master Plan, ^[16]
• Beijing Islamic Centre Mosque,
• Ras Al Khaimah Waterfront Master Plan, ^[17]
• Suzhou Retail Waterfront Masterplan in China,
• Tech Park Kunming
• Grand Tourism Community Club House in Calcutta

Political career

Mayor of Bandung

Official portrait as Mayor of Bandung

Kamil stepped into politics ahead of the 2013 Bandung mayoral election as a surprise candidate endorsed by the Islamist Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) and the nationalist Great Indonesia Movement Party (Gerindra), two rising parties from different ends of Indonesia's political spectrum that united to reform the city and prevent the position to go into the hands of the big parties at that time. Under the big parties, Bandung had been racked by corruption scandals. A few weeks after the June 2013 vote, 2003-13 Bandung mayor Dada Rosada became a corruption suspect himself and later received a 10-year jail sentence. PKS and Gerindra experimented by offering a clean, telegenic candidate without political affiliation but with known professional achievements through his iconic designs. Kamil, who until now is unaffiliated to any party, decisively defeated seven opponents in the race with 45% of votes, which almost tripled what his closest rival got, before becoming mayor of one of the most populous cities in Indonesia at the age of 42. ^{[18] [19]}

Governor of West Java

Kamil and Miss International 2017 Kevin Lilliana and his wife in Gedung Sate on 2017.

Being a popular mayor with a nationwide appeal, several big parties courted Kamil to run in the 2018 West Java gubernatorial election on their tickets but as a running mate to bolster the actual candidate for governor, who would be an affiliated politician. PKS and Gerindra, who had become stronger parties by 2018, also decided to pair their own members in a ticket. Similar to the 2013 experience, Kamil received endorsements from smaller parties, including the Islamist United Development Party that provided him a running mate, Tasikmalaya Regent Uu Ruzhanul Ulum. Kamil agreed to this arrangement, realizing he was popular among media-savvy urban voters, especially around Bandung, but weak among those who live in rural areas like Tasikmalaya. Kamil again won decisively with 33%, four percentage above his closest rival from Gerindra. ^[20]

Kamil's victories in 2013 and 2018 proved that an unaffiliated candidate could win in Indonesian elections if the person has popular appeal, cultivated through strong media campaigns, and good communications with parties of all stripes. Despite his Western education and pluralist attitudes, Kamil understands how to build rapport with Islamists in Indonesia, the country with the world's largest Muslim population, in particular in West Java that is known for its Islamic conservatism.^{[ original research? ]}

During his reign, he started the project for Bus Rapid Transit in Bandung. The Bus Rapid Transit combined electric bus, light trains, and cable car to alleviate the traffic jam in Bandung. The project is planned to start on 2023. ^{[21] [22]}

Interview with Ridwan Kamil regarding his works as governor, several weeks prior to the end of his term.

In January 2023, he officially joined the Golkar Party. ^[23]

Funding for Nahdlatul Ulama

In one of his speech, Kami claimed that he have given a 1 trillion rupiah grant to Nahdlatul Ulama, one of the biggest Sunni Islam movement in indonesia. The West Java branch of Nahdlatul Ulama claimed that they only received 2.4 billion rupiah from Kamil every year, and Kamil is only doing it to bolster his image. The West Java branch of Nahdlatul Ulama claimed that such speech could be interpreted as corruption and the missing funds could be classified as graft. Kamil explained to Nahdlatul Ulama that the financials of the grant could be held accountable, and the government of West Java has correctly been giving 1 trillion rupiahs for the past 4 years for the need of the students of pesantrens affiliated with Nahdlatul Ulama. ^{[24] [25]}

Construction of mosques

Kamil is known to frequently construct mosques. ^[26] One of his biggest mosque construction under his administration is the Masjid Al-Jabbar, that costed 1 trillion rupiahs. ^[27] The construction of the mosque receives critiques from the public as the funding to build the mosque is better used to construct mass transportation, fixing infrastructure, and repairing damaged school buildings. ^[28]

In 2022, Kamil is planning to build a mosque in Depok area to accommodate locals that are looking for mosque after going home after work. The move gained controversy as the planned mosque will have to demolish SD Negeri Pondok Cina 1, a primary school. The parents of the student of the school rejected the construction of the mosque, but some of the members of the public determined that the construction of the mosque is urgent due to the lack of mosque. The government of West Java had planned to construct the mosque on an empty plot of land, but due to the high cost of land on the area it is decided to demolish the school and construct the mosque there. In February 2022, Kamil ordered that the school is demolished and the school is removed from the list of active schools in West Java. The students of the school will be forcibly relocated to other schools. The new mosque will be constructed in August 2023, with the total construction cost of 18.8 billion rupiahs. ^[29] In February 2023, despite mediation between the parents of the school and the government of Depok the government stated that the demolition of the school will continue to proceed. ^[30]

2024 presidential bid

On 18 January 2022, Kamil announced his intention to run as presidential candidate. Since he is an independent politician and realizing it is currently impossible for independent politician run for presidential campaign in Indonesia, he hoped that there will be any political party will take him as the presidential candidate. ^[31]

In late December 2022, Reports emerged that Kamil is close to joining a political party with speculations that the move is part of his continued efforts to enter the presidential race. ^[32] The two parties said to be closest to recruiting him are members of the United Indonesia Coalition (KIB), The National Mandate Party (PAN), and The Party of Functional Groups (Golkar). ^[33]

Bid for head of new Indonesian capital

On 20 January 2022, Joko Widodo expressed his intention to set an architect and had experience in regional managing and governing as future CEO ^[34] of the National Capital Authority of Nusantara, the future capital of Indonesia. ^[35] Until 2022, only a few technocrats which hailed from architecture background which have name and reputation in Indonesian politics, Kamil himself, Tri Rismaharini, the current Minister of Social Affairs, and Danny Pomanto, former architecture lecturer of Hasanuddin University and current mayor of Makassar. ^[36] Although initially reluctant to campaign for the position, ^[37] on 24 January 2022, Kamil launched an electronic campaign to harness aspiration for the future capital project on Twitter. ^[38]

Personal life

Kamil had two biological children, Emmeril Kahn Mumtadz (1999–2022) and Camillia Laetitia Azzahra (b. 2004), and one adopted child, Arkana Aidan Misbach (b. 2020). Emmeril died in Bern, Switzerland on 26 May 2022 at the age of 22, ^{[39] [40]} while he was swimming in the Aare river. ^[41] On 9 June, his body was found at the Engehalde dam in Bern. ^{[42] [43]} His death was the subject of much attention in Indonesia: his funeral in Bandung was attended by thousands and broadcast live on state TV. ^[44]

In popular culture

Ridwan Kamil made some cameo appearances in several TV and movie productions, particularly the ones that are set in Bandung. Kamil also runs very active social media accounts that document his personal, professional, and political activities with millions of followers.

Filmography

Film

Year	Title	Role
2013	Demi Ucok	Lecturer
2014	Hijabers in Love  [ id ]	Bandros driver
2015	The Wedding & Bebek Betutu [45]	Himself
2017	Total Chaos  [ id ] [46]	Rossa's father
2018	Dilan 1990	Teacher
	Friends but Married	Lecturer
	Serendipity  [ id ]	Restaurant owner
2019	Dilan 1991 [47]	School headmaster
	Yowis Ben 2  [ id ]	Museum visitor
2020	Mangga Muda  [ id ]	Manager of Gemah Ripah Taxi
	Riki Rhino  [ id ]	Grada (voice actor)
2022	Gara-Gara Warisan  [ id ]	Guest house visitor
	Ranah 3 Warna  [ id ]	Ambassador of Indonesia to Canada

Television

Year	Title	Role
2015	Preman Pensiun  [ id ] [48]	Himself (2 episodes)
2022	Ikatan Cinta	Aldebaran's business partner (1 episode)
	Kabayan Milenial Series	Himself (special appearance, 1 episode)
2023	Preman Pensiun 8	Himself (1 episode)

References

1. Sheehan, Susan (13 June 2017). "Ridwan Kamil Turns an Unconventional Home in Indonesia Into an Ingenious Recycling System". Architectural Digest. No. September 2009. Retrieved 28 December 2020.
2. "Ridwan Kamil". 19 June 2020.
3. Febrinastri, Fabiola (5 November 2019). "Ridwan Kamil Raih Gelar H.C dari Dong-A University, Korea Selatan". suara.com (in Indonesian). Retrieved 1 February 2022.
4. Bagus, Peter (5 November 2019). "Ridwan Kamil Dapat Gelar Doctor HC dari Dong-A University Korsel - Bogor-Kita.com" (in Indonesian). Retrieved 1 February 2022.
5. "Profile + People | PT. URBANE INDONESIA".
6. "Ridwan Kamil | People | Creative and Cultural Economy | British Council". Creativeconomy.britishcouncil.org. Retrieved 7 July 2012.
7. "Construction: Information, Sales Leads, Projects, Market Data | Welcome to BCI Asia". Bciasia.com. Retrieved 7 July 2012.
8. "Whiteboard Journal • Indonesia | Jakarta Berkebun". Whiteboardjournal.com. Archived from the original on 1 January 2012. Retrieved 7 July 2012.
9. Siregar, Dini (2 October 2011). "Urban Farming with Indonesia Berkebun | The Beat Magazine". Beatmag.com. Archived from the original on 3 January 2014. Retrieved 7 July 2012.
10. Wahono, Tri (22 September 2011). "Internet Wujudkan Mimpi Indonesia Berkebun". Tekno.kompas.com. Retrieved 7 July 2012.
11. Pertiwi, Ni Luh Made (13 May 2012). Asdhiana, I Made (ed.). "Wisata Sambil Berkebun". Travel.kompas.com. Retrieved 7 July 2012.
12. "Fakta-fakta Masjid Al Jabbar: Habiskan Dana Rp 1 Triliun, Mampu Tampung 33.000 Jemaah". Kompas.com. 26 December 2022. Retrieved 7 January 2023.
13. "Al-Irsyad Mosque / Urbane". ArchDaily. 10 November 2010. Retrieved 7 July 2012.
14. Novita, Nayu (19 December 2008). "M. Ridwan Kamil: Creativity at heart of success". The Jakarta Post. Retrieved 7 July 2012.
15. "Sony Vaio - You Against The Machine! Endorser". Myvaio.sony.co.id. Archived from the original on 18 April 2012. Retrieved 7 July 2012.
16. Soeriaatmadja, Wahyudi (25 June 2018). "Hottest contest being fought in Indonesia's most populous province". The Straits Times. Retrieved 28 December 2020.
17. "detikNews : Ridwan Kamil, Ajak Masyarakat Kota Berkebun". News.detik.com. Retrieved 7 July 2012.
18. Kuswandi, Rio (28 June 2013). Assifa, Farid (ed.). "Ridwan Kamil Wali Kota Terpilih Bandung". KOMPAS.com (in Indonesian). Retrieved 17 March 2023.
19. Wulan, Teja (29 April 2014). "Korupsi, Mantan Walikota Bandung Divonis 10 Tahun Penjara". VOA Indonesia (in Indonesian). Retrieved 17 March 2023.
20. Dinillah, Mukhlis (9 July 2018). "Menang di Pilgub Jabar, Ridwan Kamil-Uu Kuasai 14 Daerah". detiknews (in Indonesian). Retrieved 17 March 2023.
21. "Ridwan Kamil 'dikritik' soal transportasi publik, pengamat: 'Bandung bakal kolaps dari sisi kemacetan jika tak berubah dalam 10 tahun'". BBC News Indonesia (in Indonesian). Archived from the original on 19 February 2023. Retrieved 19 February 2023.
22. Sudrajat, Ajat. Ferdinan, Yuniardi (ed.). "Pemprov Jabar berupaya benahi transportasi publik". ANTARA News Jawa Barat. Archived from the original on 19 February 2023. Retrieved 19 February 2023.
23. Muhid, Hendrik Khoirul (21 January 2023). Andryanto, Dian (ed.). "Kronologi Ridwan Kamil Gabung Partai Golkar, Kode Sudah Diberikan Jauh Hari". Tempo. Retrieved 17 March 2023.
24. Alhamidi, Rifat. "Ridwan Kamil Jelaskan soal Bantuan Rp 1 Triliun ke PWNU Jabar". detiknews (in Indonesian). Archived from the original on 29 December 2022. Retrieved 15 February 2023.
25. Alhamidi, Rifat. "Soal Bantuan Rp 1 T ke NU Saat Jadi Gubernur, RK: Faktanya Begitu". detikjabar (in Indonesian). Archived from the original on 19 February 2023. Retrieved 19 February 2023.
26. Liputan6.com (6 April 2022). "Alasan Ridwan Kamil Gemar Bangun Masjid Terungkap Saat Isi Kuliah Subuh di Masjid Jogokariyan Jogja". liputan6.com (in Indonesian). Retrieved 30 July 2023.
27. Media, Kompas Cyber (17 September 2022). "Masjid Al Jabbar Dikritik Gara-gara Makan Duit Rp 1 Triliun, Apakah Layak Dibangun? Halaman all". KOMPAS.com (in Indonesian). Retrieved 30 July 2023.
28. Nuraini, Citra (4 January 2023). "Kuras APBD Rp 1 Triliun, Pembangunan Masjid Al Jabbar Banjir Kritik". pembritabogor.com. Retrieved 30 July 2023.
29. "Polemik penggusuran SDN Pondok Cina 1 Depok yang hendak diubah menjadi masjid". BBC News Indonesia (in Indonesian). 17 November 2022. Retrieved 30 July 2023.
30. Indonesia, C. N. N. "Pemkot Depok Disebut Tetap Akan Gusur SDN Pondok Cina". nasional (in Indonesian). Retrieved 30 July 2023.
31. Suadnyana, Sui (18 January 2022). "Ridwan Kamil Nyatakan Siap Lahir Batin Maju Pilpres 2024". detiknews (in Indonesian). Retrieved 18 January 2022.
32. Taher, Andrian Pratama. "Motif di Balik Perebutan Ridwan Kamil oleh Golkar dan PAN". tirto.id (in Indonesian). Retrieved 1 January 2023.
33. "Ridwan Kamil di Antara Rayuan Golkar dan PAN". detiknews (in Indonesian). Retrieved 1 January 2023.
34. Retaduari, Elza Astari, ed. (17 January 2022). "Profil 4 Calon Pemimpin Ibu Kota Negara Baru "Nusantara" yang Disebut Jokowi Halaman all". KOMPAS.com (in Indonesian). Retrieved 24 January 2022. The post called Chief Executive Officer by Jokowi himself.
35. Riana, Friski (22 January 2022). "Jokowi Ingin Kepala Otorita IKN Arsitek dan Pernah Pimpin Daerah, Siapa yang Memenuhi?". Tempo.co (in Indonesian). Retrieved 24 January 2022.
36. Hutabarat, Delvira (21 January 2022). "Ridwan Kamil sampai Risma, Ini Kepala Daerah yang Berlatar Belakang Arsitek". liputan6.com (in Indonesian). Retrieved 24 January 2022.
37. Putra, Wisma (20 January 2022). "Ridwan Kamil Ogah Kepedean soal Pemimpin Nusantara". detiknews (in Indonesian). Retrieved 24 January 2022.
38. "Ridwan Kamil Jaring Aspirasi soal IKN, Siap Pimpin Nusantara?". detiknews (in Indonesian). Retrieved 24 January 2022.
39. Roscoe, Matthew (3 June 2022). "Shock as Indonesian national Eril Kahn Mumtadz drowns in Swiss river". Euro Weekly News. Retrieved 6 June 2022.
40. Fahmi, Rifki Abdul. "Keluarga Ridwan Kamil Nyatakan Emmeril Kahn Mumtadz Wafat Tenggelam di Sungai Aare Swiss - PRFM News". prfmnews.pikiran-rakyat.com (in Indonesian). Retrieved 6 June 2022.
41. "Indonesian governor's son missing after swim in Swiss river". AP NEWS. 27 May 2022. Retrieved 27 May 2022.
42. Adhi, Irawan Sapto, ed. (9 June 2022). "Jenazah Eril Akhirnya Ditemukan pada 8 Juni di Bendungan Engehalde Swiss". KOMPAS.com (in Indonesian). Retrieved 9 June 2022.
43. Saptohutomo, Aryo Putranto, ed. (9 June 2022). "Polisi Swiss Identifikasi Jasad Eril Melalui Tes DNA". KOMPAS.com (in Indonesian). Retrieved 15 June 2022.
44. Fröhlich, Cedric (15 June 2022). "Politiker-Sohn aus Indonesien – Die Geschichte von Eril, der in der Aare ertrank". Der Bund (in German). Retrieved 15 June 2022.
45. Pambudi, Luhur Tri (8 October 2015). Silaban, Martha Warta (ed.). "Ridwan Kamil Nongol di Film The Wedding & Bebek Betutu". Tempo (in Indonesian). Retrieved 5 July 2018.
46. Astarina, Sintia (27 April 2017). "Ridwan Kamil Beradu Akting dengan Nikita Willy di "Total Chaos"". Kompas (in Indonesian). Retrieved 13 June 2019.
47. Shaidra, Aisha, ed. (11 February 2019). "Pengalaman Ridwan Kamil Terlibat Main Film Dilan 1991". Tempo (in Indonesian). Retrieved 13 June 2019.
48. "Nampang di Sinetron 'Preman Pensiun', Ridwan Kamil Promosikan Kota Bandung". Detik (in Indonesian). 21 February 2015. Retrieved 5 July 2018.

External links

• Official website
• http://www.indonesiakreatif.net/index.php/id/ceritasukses/read/ridwan-kamil
• http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2010/06/22/on-a-quest-jakarta%E2%80%99s-architectural-identity.html
• Urbane Indonesia

  Awards

• Indonesia Berkebun
• http://www.architecturaldigest.com/decor/2009-09/ridwan_kamil_article
• Ridwan Kamil, TEDx Jakarta (blog)
• Ridwan Kamil on Facebook
• Ridwan Kamil on Instagram
• Ridwan Kamil on Twitter