East Kalimantan Governor's Rp 8.5 Billion Official Car Deemed Inconsistent with Prabowo's Austerity Drive
JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - Member of Commission II of the Indonesian Parliament, Deddy Sitorus, has stated that the purchase of an official car for the Governor of East Kalimantan (Kaltim) worth Rp 8.5 billion is inconsistent with the spirit of budgetary efficiency promoted by President Prabowo Subianto.
Deddy believes that the need for official vehicles could be addressed through alternative, more economical schemes, such as leasing when required.
“After all, the Governor does not visit regions every day, and savings could be made by leasing or renting when necessary. Therefore, the decision to purchase a relatively luxurious car goes against the spirit of saving and efficiency advocated by President Prabowo,” Deddy said when contacted on Thursday (February 26, 2026).
“In my opinion, the purchase of a luxury vehicle by the Governor of East Kalimantan when the region is experiencing drastic budget cuts is an insensitive and excessive act. Transfers to the East Kalimantan province have been cut by almost 75 percent, from Rp 9.3 trillion to only Rp 2.3 trillion,” Deddy added.
According to him, the reason of needing a vehicle to support mobility in an area with limited infrastructure does not necessarily have to be fulfilled with an expensive car.
Previously, the procurement of an official car for the Governor of East Kalimantan worth Rp 8.5 billion had drawn public attention amid the policy of budgetary efficiency.
The Governor of East Kalimantan, Rudy Mas’ud, affirmed that he has not yet used the official vehicle belonging to the East Kalimantan Provincial Government for operational activities in the region.
He admitted that he is still using his private car.
Rudy also explained that the official vehicle is currently in Jakarta and is used for national and international agendas.
According to him, East Kalimantan’s position as the location of the new capital city (IKN) means that the region often receives visits from officials, investors, and foreign guests, thus requiring representative facilities.
He also believes that regional leaders need to use decent vehicles to maintain the image of the region.
“It’s not appropriate for the regional leader to use a substandard car. Let’s maintain the dignity of East Kalimantan, the dignity of the people of East Kalimantan,” said Rudy.
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