Flood of Complaints about East Kalimantan Governor, Home Ministry Issues Warning
The Ministry of Home Affairs (Kemendagri) has received numerous public complaints against East Kalimantan Governor Rudy Mas’ud. The ministry has reminded regional heads to exercise caution in making policies.
As compiled by detikcom on Monday (27/4/2026), several of Rudy Mas’ud’s policies have sparked controversy. One of them concerns the procurement of an official vehicle worth Rp 8.5 billion.
Rudy stated that the procurement was carried out in accordance with regulations and to uphold the dignity of East Kalimantan. Currently, the vehicle has been returned following criticism from various parties.
Nevertheless, the controversy over Rudy Mas’ud’s policies did not end there. He faced further criticism after budgeting Rp 25 billion for the renovation of the official residence. These policies triggered public anger, leading to protest actions.
Deputy Minister of Home Affairs Bima Arya Sugiarto said his side is providing special assistance to Rudy Mas’ud. He admitted to receiving many complaints against Rudy Mas’ud.
“Yes, East Kalimantan, sir, we are providing special assistance to East Kalimantan. Because there are many complaints and we are also observing the public opinions that exist,” Bima Arya said at the Kemendagri office in Central Jakarta on Monday (27/4).
His side has reminded Rudy to be more careful regarding budget usage. He said East Kalimantan is one of the regions with many notes on budgeting.
“We continue to remind them to truly be cautious with the regional budget. To allocate it in line with the spirit of efficiency. So, yes, East Kalimantan has many notes from us. We will certainly address every development,” he stated.
Kemendagri Deploys Itjen Team
Kemendagri has deployed an Inspectorate General (Itjen) team to monitor the activities of the East Kalimantan Governor. This includes communication by the Directorate General of Regional Autonomy (Otda) team to remind the Governor about budget efficiency.
“The main point is that the spirit of efficiency must be upheld continuously. And for leaders, the leader should be the last one to enjoy. The leader should be the last one to benefit,” Bima Arya remarked.
“Leaders should not be oriented towards facilities. Leaders should focus on works and performance. We hope that this spirit is realised by regional heads, including the Governor,” he added.
Bima assured that Kemendagri continues to provide guidance to Rudy to pay attention to budget allocation. He said Kemendagri has asked Rudy to re-evaluate matters that are needed and in line with efficiency directives.
“We ask the Governor to truly reconsider and re-evaluate. Everything can be adjusted. If it’s not a priority, just cancel it. If it’s not felt by the residents, then don’t proceed,” he said.
Rudy Mas’ud Apologises
Rudy Mas’ud spoke out about the recent controversies that have come under public scrutiny. He issued an open apology for the unrest that arose, while acknowledging areas needing improvement, particularly in communication and decision-making.
Rudy conveyed this through a video on his personal Instagram account. He initially viewed it as normal for the public to criticise the government as a form of concern.
“Assalamualaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh. Dear fathers, mothers, and the people of East Kalimantan whom I respect, in the last few days I have followed various attentions and developments in the midst of society,” he began his statement as reported by detikKalimantan on Monday (27/4).
“As governor, I understand that when it comes to policies and the use of public facilities, it is natural for questions and harsh criticisms to arise as a form of public concern for the region we all love,” he continued.
He admitted to reflecting over the past few days. According to him, there are indeed things that need to be improved, so he apologised for the unrest that occurred.
“In the past few days, I have done a lot of reflecting. I realise there are things that need to be improved, both in attitude and communication. Therefore, from the deepest part of my heart, I convey my sincerest apologies for the unrest and discomfort that has occurred,” he said in his video statement.
He stated that the planning for the Rp 25 billion official residence renovation package was already in place before he took office, but as the current governor, Rudy acknowledged that the responsibility still lies with him.
“We need to convey honestly that the planning for the Rp 25 billion official residence renovation package was indeed already there before we took office. However, I realise that as the current governor, the responsibility remains mine,” he said.