East Kalimantan Governor Responds to 21 April Action: Input is Highly Classy

East Kalimantan Governor Rudy Mas’ud has spoken out in response to the masses protesting in the 21 April Kaltim action at the DPRD Building and the East Kalimantan Governor’s Office in Samarinda on Tuesday (21/4).

Rudy expressed thanks for the input from students, community layers, and all elements acting as social control.

“Thank you for the input from my student siblings, community layers, and all elements that remain as social control. Today’s input is very meaningful and highly classy. Hopefully, moving forward, we and the entire East Kalimantan Provincial Government can accelerate improvements to our performance,” Rudy stated in a message delivered via Instagram video on Tuesday (21/4).

Rudy also expressed his hope that students, the public, and all layers can continually serve as eyes and ears for improvements and evaluations of the East Kalimantan Provincial Government’s performance in carrying out social control and comprehensive evaluations.

“Certainly, the future of East Kalimantan will ultimately have its fate determined in your hands,” Rudy said.

The 21 April masses from the people of Kaltim protested carrying three demands.

The contents of the three demands from the people’s action were to audit all East Kalimantan Provincial Government policies, stop KKN practices in Kaltim, and urge the East Kalimantan DPRD to immediately take action and fully carry out its oversight function.

During the action at the DPRD Building and the East Kalimantan Governor’s Office, neither Rudy Mas’ud nor East Kalimantan DPRD Chairman Hasanudin Mas’ud—who are brothers—met the demonstrating masses.

The masses in front of the East Kalimantan DPRD were met by Deputy Chairman I of the East Kalimantan DPRD, Ekti Imanuel.

On that occasion, Ekti agreed to sign the integrity pact proposed by the 21 April action masses. On the other hand, the masses continued to highlight the absence of East Kalimantan DPRD Chairman Hasan Mas’ud amid the action.

“What the student siblings propose, we agree and approve. Later, I as first deputy chairman, together with the second deputy chairman, third deputy chairman, and seven faction chairs, will sign,” Ekti said, greeted with mass approval, quoted from detik.

Previously, the East Kalimantan People’s Alliance read out the integrity pact in front of the East Kalimantan DPRD Office as a form of demanding commitment from people’s representatives. The masses also questioned the whereabouts of the East Kalimantan DPRD Chairman who was not at the location during the action.

In the document’s contents, the East Kalimantan DPRD was asked to be ready to take political and moral responsibility to the public and to carry out all demands conveyed. The DPRD was also asked to be prepared to accept consequences if it does not fulfil those commitments.

They also urged a total audit of East Kalimantan Provincial Government policies, including budget usage deemed not supportive of the public.

In addition, other demands included stopping corruption, collusion, and nepotism practices and encouraging the DPRD to maximally carry out oversight functions over the local government. The masses also highlighted potential conflicts of interest within the DPRD body that are deemed to affect policy independence.

The atmosphere briefly heated when the masses demanded DPRD leaders come out to meet them and directly feel public pressure. They emphasised they would return in larger numbers if commitments are not realised.

Demo in front of the East Kalimantan Governor’s Office

As reported by detikKalimantan, the 21 April action initially took place in front of the East Kalimantan DPRD, then around 14:00 WITA, the action masses moved to the East Kalimantan Governor’s Office.

In the oration in front of the East Kalimantan Governor’s office, the masses demanded that East Kalimantan Governor Rudy Mas’ud meet them, even forcing him to step down from his position. However, until the action ended, Rudy, who is also a Golkar politician, did not meet the demonstrating masses.

Field coordinator and public relations for the East Kalimantan People’s Alliance, Lukman Nil Hakim, stated that the action masses did not receive a good reception upon arriving at the Governor’s Office. He assessed that the installation of barbed wire and tight guarding reflects the governor’s attitude that is not open to the public.

“The people of Kaltim only want to question their governor’s accountability. But until now, we are still struggling and have not been met,” he said to reporters on Tuesday afternoon.

Until the action masses dispersed at 17:30 WITA, they still could not meet the East Kalimantan Governor.

In the action, the masses voiced several main demands, from stopping KKN practices to a total evaluation of local government policies. They also demanded the DPRD carry out maximum oversight functions.

“We reject all forms of cheating and injustice. Our main demand is to stop KKN practices now, and all policies not pro-people must be evaluated,” he said.

He also highlighted alleged nepotism deemed to occur in various government sectors, including the placement of close associates in several strategic positions. In addition, budget policies such as the procurement of operational vehicles worth Rp 8.5 billion and renovation of official residences worth Rp 25 billion also drew attention.

“Nepotism is clearly visible. Placement of close associates in various positions. Plus budget policies for operational vehicle procurement of Rp 8.5 billion and official residence renovation of Rp 25 billion,” Lukman said.

The elimination of BPJS subsidies for around 49,000 East Kalimantan residents was also mentioned as the policy most felt by the public.

“The elimination of BPJS subsidies for 49,000 people is very painful. That’s not a small number,” he emphasised.

The demonstration proceeded safely, and the action masses briefly apprehended one man suspected of being a provocateur for carrying a flare and smoke bomb.

Because they did not receive a response from the governor, follow-up actions are not ruled out to be held again.

“I also cannot confirm yet that this struggle will continue, while we also sit down after this action, together. Later we will see the conditions moving forward,” Lukman said.

The action masses moving in the 21 April demo reached approximately 3,000 people. They consisted of five elements, students, organisations