East Kalimantan Governor Defends Rp 8.5 Billion Official Vehicle Budget: 'We Can't Just Use Any Old Car'
East Kalimantan Governor Rudy Mas’ud has spoken out regarding the Rp 8.5 billion budget for the procurement of official vehicles. He stated the procurement was carried out in accordance with regulations and to uphold the dignity of East Kalimantan.
The Rp 8.5 billion budget issue was initially explained by East Kalimantan Provincial Secretary Sri Wahyuni. As reported by Antara on Tuesday (24/2/2025), Sri said the procurement plan had undergone careful consideration based on official requirements and the effectiveness of the regional leader’s work.
She said the operational vehicle was intended to reach areas of East Kalimantan that have extreme geographical characteristics. She stated that the governor’s official vehicle must be capable of navigating the province’s difficult terrain.
“The Governor is committed to directly monitoring every issue in remote areas. For example, during a visit to Bongan, he wanted to personally see the road conditions that residents had been complaining about. To reach such critical points with such difficult terrain, a reliable and representative vehicle is needed,” said Sri Wahyuni.
She said the Rp 8.5 billion budget was intended for the purchase of a 3,000cc hybrid SUV. However, she did not specify when the vehicle would be purchased, its brand, or the quantity.
“Road conditions in East Kalimantan are often muddy and rocky. A multi-purpose vehicle with capable off-road performance is essential so that the leader’s work agenda is not hindered by technical obstacles in the field,” she said.
Governor Rudy Mas’ud also addressed the Rp 8.5 billion budget for purchasing official vehicles. Rudy said he had not yet received an official vehicle.
“Regarding vehicles, to this day the East Kalimantan Provincial Government has not provided us with a car for use in East Kalimantan, so there is no official vehicle. The car currently in use is our personal vehicle,” said Rudy.
Rudy noted that East Kalimantan is the province where the Nusantara Capital City (IKN) is located. He said the vehicle procurement was also intended to uphold the dignity of East Kalimantan.
“East Kalimantan is the Nusantara Capital, a miniature of Indonesia. Guests include not only regional leaders from across Indonesia, but also from around the world. Surely the regional leader can’t just use any old car. We must uphold the dignity of East Kalimantan,” he said.
“The vehicle being procured is only 3,000cc. As for the price — you get what you pay for in terms of quality. We are not fixated on the price; we are simply following the specifications, in accordance with the Ministry of Home Affairs regulation,” he added.
Meanwhile, according to the Sirup Inaproc procurement website, there is a plan to procure official vehicles for the regional leader and deputy regional leader using the 2026 regional budget (APBD). The vehicle to be purchased is planned to be a 4x4 automatic transmission jeep (non-premium colour) with a 3,346cc diesel engine capacity.
The procurement is planned for May 2026 using the e-purchasing method. The number of vehicles planned for purchase is one unit.
“The funding source is the 2026 APBD of East Kalimantan Province. The budget ceiling is Rp 2,952,380,480 (Rp 2.9 billion),” as stated on the website.