NasDem Criticises East Kalimantan Governor's Official Vehicle Budget of Rp 8.5 Billion, Demands Interior Ministry Intervention

NasDem Commission II Deputy, Ujang Bey, has criticised the official vehicle budget for East Kalimantan Governor Rudy Mas’ud, which amounts to Rp 8.5 billion. Ujang argued that leaders should be more sensitive to the situation facing the public.

“I think this is merely a matter of sensitivity to the situation. True leaders must prioritise a sense of crisis management and avoid controversy amongst the public,” Ujang told reporters on Thursday (26 February 2026).

Ujang called on the Interior Ministry to summon Rudy, saying the controversy should not be allowed to drag on.

“The Interior Minister should call and discuss matters with the East Kalimantan Governor. This official vehicle controversy should not be prolonged; it should simply be aligned with principles of appropriateness and function,” he said.

Ujang cautioned that policies on official vehicle procurement should not create negative perceptions amongst the public, particularly when infrastructure problems persist in the region.

“We must avoid a situation where people say: if the roads are damaged, then the governor’s car quality should match the road conditions,” he remarked.

“However, leaders must be able to face these challenges by improving conditions that are already their responsibility—undertaking development in their region,” he added.

Rudy Mas’ud has already responded to the Rp 8.5 billion vehicle procurement budget, stating that the acquisition follows proper regulations and is intended to uphold East Kalimantan’s dignity.

The Rp 8.5 billion budget was initially explained by East Kalimantan Regional Secretary Sri Wahyuni. According to Antara news agency on Tuesday (24 February), Sri stated that the procurement plan had undergone careful consideration based on operational requirements and the effectiveness of the regional head’s work.

She said the operational vehicle is intended to reach areas of East Kalimantan with extreme geographical characteristics. She explained that the governor’s official vehicle must be capable of traversing difficult terrain in the region.

“The Governor is committed to directly monitoring every issue in remote areas. For example, during a visit to Bongan, he wanted to personally assess the road conditions complained about by residents. To reach critical points across such challenging terrain, a reliable and representative vehicle is needed,” said Sri Wahyuni.