Deputy Interior Minister Warns East Kalimantan Governor: Be Careful with Regional Budget!

Jakarta – Deputy Interior Minister (Wamendagri) Bima Arya has reminded East Kalimantan Governor Rudy Mas’ud to be careful in using the regional revenue and expenditure budget (APBD). This statement was made by Bima Arya in response to the controversy surrounding Rudy Mas’ud’s budget usage, including Rp25 billion for renovating the governor’s residence, Rp8.5 billion for procuring official vehicles, and Rp125 million for massage chairs. “We continue to remind them to be truly careful with the APBD,” said Bima Arya to reporters at the Ministry of Home Affairs office in Central Jakarta on Monday, 27 April 2026. Bima Arya explained that the Ministry of Home Affairs is currently providing special assistance to East Kalimantan Governor Rudy Mas’ud, especially given the many public opinions regarding his budget usage. “So, East Kalimantan has many notes from us. We will address every development. There is the Inspector General we have sent there, and colleagues from the Regional Autonomy Directorate who are also communicating reminders,” he clarified. In addition, the Ministry of Home Affairs, he said, continues to remind Rudy Mas’ud to allocate the APBD in line with the principle of efficiency. “So that it is allocated in the spirit of efficiency,” he stated. Rudy Mas’ud is also asked to further review budget allocations. If they are not priorities, Bima Arya requests that they be cancelled. “And we ask the Governor to really reconsider and review them. Everything can be adjusted. If it’s not a priority, just cancel it,” Bima Arya concluded. Previously, it was reported that thousands of East Kalimantan residents held a demonstration in front of the Governor’s office on Tuesday, 21 April 2026, as a form of protest against several budget policies deemed not in favour of the public. The action highlighted Governor Rudy Mas’ud’s policies that are considered to trigger public unrest, leading to clashes with security forces. The demonstration, involving students and civil society, put forward three main demands: evaluation of provincial government policies, cessation of corruption, collusion, and nepotism (KKN) practices, and urging the Regional Legislative Council (DPRD) to strengthen its oversight function. The main focus of the action was several controversial budget policies, including: