Golkar Reprimands East Kalimantan Governor Over Rp 8.5 Billion Official Vehicle: Measure Policy Against People's Conditions
JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - Golkar party has reminded East Kalimantan Governor Rudy Mas’ud to formulate policies by considering the condition of society amid the controversy surrounding the procurement of an official vehicle worth Rp 8.5 billion.
Golkar Party Secretary-General Sarmuji emphasised that every regional government policy must be measured based on the people’s situation, not the personal interests of officials.
“From the Governor’s explanation, this budget was indeed approved in 2024, but for a vehicle with such specifications requires ordering. East Kalimantan has difficult terrain with an area the size of Java Island. But regardless, we must measure everything against our people’s conditions, not by personal standards,” Sarmuji said when contacted on Friday (27 February 2026).
In this communication, Golkar requested that policies adopted should listen more to public opinion amid budget efficiency measures.
“We have already communicated with the East Kalimantan Governor. We are asking for greater attention to public opinion in the context of efficiency,” he stated.
“Yes, we remind each other,” he added, referring to communications between Golkar’s Central Management Board.
Rudy acknowledged that he is still using his private vehicle to support operational activities as governor. According to Sarmuji, this approach is more appropriate in the current situation, although by regulation regional heads are entitled to official vehicles.
It was previously reported that the procurement of East Kalimantan Governor’s official vehicle worth Rp 8.5 billion became the subject of public scrutiny because it was conducted amid budget efficiency policies.
Rudy Mas’ud affirmed that he has not yet used the official vehicle belonging to the East Kalimantan Provincial Government for regional operations and continues to use his private vehicle.
“Until today, the East Kalimantan Provincial Government has not provided me with a vehicle in East Kalimantan. So there is no vehicle; the vehicle we have today is our private vehicle,” said Rudy when met on Tuesday (24 February 2026).
He explained that the official vehicle is currently in Jakarta and will be used for national and international engagements.
“East Kalimantan is the Nation’s Capital, a miniature of Indonesia. Visitors from East Kalimantan are not only from regional heads throughout Indonesia, but also from the global stage,” said Rudy.
He also believed that regional heads need to use appropriate vehicles as part of efforts to maintain the image of the region.
“It would be strange for a regional head to use just any vehicle. We must uphold the dignity of East Kalimantan, the dignity of East Kalimantan’s people,” he concluded.