East Kalimantan Governor's Official Vehicle Costs Rp 8.5 Billion; Anti-Corruption Commission Insists Procurement Must Match Needs
JAKARTA — Indonesia’s Anti-Corruption Commission (KPK) has responded to widespread media coverage regarding East Kalimantan Governor Rudy Mas’ud’s official vehicle purchase valued at Rp 8.5 billion, reminding regional governments that procurement of goods must align with operational needs.
“This has indeed received considerable media attention and we are also following the reporting on this matter. In the context of regional spending, proper planning must be conducted, aligned with genuine needs, and importantly, the procurement process itself,” said a KPK spokesperson in a Q&A session published via the commission’s official Instagram account on Sunday (1 March 2026).
“This is often an area where there is room for corruption to occur. We must carefully examine all mechanisms to ensure they have been properly implemented. We must avoid situations where the need is for type A, but the purchase is type B,” the spokesperson added.
Previously, Sudarno, a member of the Governor’s Advisory Team for Development Acceleration in the field of political and public communications, explained that the official vehicle controversy should be viewed comprehensively, considering both the operational needs of regional leadership and the budget discussion context.
“First, the vehicle is for fieldwork and for hosting guests. When we receive visitors from ministries, the national parliament, or even embassies, they cannot simply drive around the city,” Sudarno said when met by Kompas.com on Saturday evening (28 February 2026).
According to him, the need for such a vehicle stems from the governor’s function as the representative of the central government in the region.
Sudarno emphasised that technically, Governor Rudy Mas’ud was not involved in determining the vehicle’s specifications.
“The governor does not handle specifications. It does not extend to detailed engine capacity or model selection. That is the technical domain of the regional finance authority. He communicated his needs; the technical details are handled by those below,” he said.
“He simply ensures his needs are met. The type, brand, and specifications are technical matters,” Sudarno reiterated.
According to Sudarno, the planned vehicle is of a hybrid type. This option was selected considering the uneven distribution of electric charging infrastructure in East Kalimantan.
Sudarno noted that the vehicle remains in Jakarta and has not yet been used in East Kalimantan.
Nevertheless, he emphasised that the East Kalimantan Governor is prepared to comply with any directive from the central government should the procurement require re-examination.
“The governor respects and adheres to central government policy. If the authorities wish for it to be returned, exchanged, or cancelled, we will comply with the proper procedure,” he said.