Bandung Mayor Enraged Over Illegal Tree Felling for Padel Court Construction

Ten street trees on LLRE Martadinata street in Bandung City, West Java, Indonesia, have been illegally felled for the construction of a padel court, sparking outrage from Mayor Muhammad Farhan. The felled trees were located in front of the Six Nine Padel facility. Evidence suggests the stumps were covered with concrete and smaller plants, likely to conceal the illegal act. This has enraged Bandung Mayor, Muhammad Farhan. Farhan stated that the identities of those responsible for the illegal tree felling have been identified and legal prosecution will proceed swiftly. "I am very angry. We will prosecute this. According to reports, someone has already done the pruning, and we will prosecute them first," Farhan said in a written statement on Friday (July 31, 2026). In addition, Farhan plans to coordinate with the Governor of West Java, Dedi Mulyadi, and the Ministry of Environment and Forestry. According to him, there are regulations stipulated by the West Java Provincial Government and the Ministry of Environment and Forestry that prohibit arbitrary tree felling. "The Governor has already issued a moratorium. Therefore, I will report this matter directly to him for legal processing, as it has the potential to be a significant violation," he said. "We will prosecute the parties who carried out this felling first," he continued. Meanwhile, a pedestrian named Agus (32) expressed regret over the illegal felling, noting that the trees contributed to a cooler atmosphere in Bandung. "I just found out the trees were cut down. It's regrettable because it makes it hotter, whereas trees usually make it cooler," he commented.