PORTALJABAR, BEKASI REGENCY - Ade Kuswara Kunang was officially inaugurated as Regent of Bekasi together with Deputy Regent Asep Surya Atmaja on February 20, 2025.

This inauguration created a new history of regional leadership, making Ade Kuswara Kunang the youngest regent in the history of the Bekasi Regency government.

Bekasi historian, Endra Kusnawan, revealed that Ade Kuswara Kunang became the youngest definitive regent at the age of 31 years and 6 months at the time of his inauguration. This record makes him younger than previous regents who were on average over 40 years old when they took office.

"The first regent appointed by the Department of Home Affairs during the New Order era, Lieutenant Colonel M. Sukat Subandi, was inaugurated on January 26, 1967 at the age of 41. Meanwhile, his successor, Lieutenant Colonel Abdul Fatah, took office at the age of 47 after being elected by the DPRD," explained Endra when met at the Cikarang Pusat Regency Government Complex, Wednesday (19/02/2025).

The history of Bekasi Regency leadership records that previous regents came from military or political backgrounds with a more senior age range. For example, Lieutenant Colonel Sukomartono who was inaugurated on November 9, 1983 at the age of 42, Colonel Inf. H. Moch Djamhari who served in 1993 at the age of 50, and Colonel H. Wikanda Darmawijaya who became regent in 1998 at the age of 57.

In the era of direct elections, Regent Sa'duddin who was elected in the 2007 Pilkada was inaugurated at the age of 46. Then, dr. Neneng Hasanah Yasin who won the 2012 Pilkada became the first female regent in Bekasi Regency at the age of 31 years and 10 months. However, that age is still older than Ade Kuswara Kunang who now holds the record as the youngest regent.

"Thus, from the entire series of Bekasi Regency leadership, Ade Kuswara Kunang officially became the youngest regent in the history of government in this region," concluded Endra.

The inauguration of Ade Kuswara Kunang as Regent of Bekasi for the 2025–2030 period is expected to bring new changes to Bekasi Regency. With his relatively young age, his leadership is expected to be able to provide innovation and new energy in regional development.

Endra Kusnawan himself is a scholar and author of the book History of Bekasi and Bekasi Fighters in the Revolutionary War Era. He is widely known for his contributions in tracing and documenting the history of Bekasi, including the journey of regional leadership from time to time.