Public Works Minister Cancels US Trip, Chooses Aceh Instead

Jakarta - Minister of Public Works Dody Hanggodo has cancelled a planned trip to the United States, choosing instead to visit Aceh. “Cancelled. The trip to America is cancelled,” Dody said in a written statement while inspecting the Enang-Enang Bridge in Bener Meriah, Aceh, on Wednesday.

Dody admitted he had been to the United States several times before and this time preferred to go to Gayo. “I chose to go to Enang-Enang instead,” he explained.

Previously, the Ministry of Public Works had stressed that information claiming Minister Dody Hanggodo, along with his wife and child, would travel to watch the World Cup final using the state budget was untrue. The ministry confirmed there was no use of state funds to finance family members for a visit to the United States.

Ministry Secretary General Apri Artoto explained that the document circulating on social media was an administrative letter issued to fulfil visa application requirements through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He said the letter was not a travel approval or proof of budget usage. “We need to emphasise that there is no use of the state budget to finance family members or personal interests. If family members do accompany, all costs are borne personally,” Apri stated.

According to Apri, the minister’s plan to visit New York remained tentative. The departure of Dody and his entourage would depend on the priority of domestic state duties, including post-disaster management, the acceleration of Sekolah Rakyat completion, and preparedness for the potential El Niño phenomenon. Apri also noted that including family members’ names in the administrative letter was done in coordination with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as part of the visa application process.

The ministry stressed that the presence of family members’ names in the document should not be interpreted as the use of state funds or a confirmed travel plan. Regarding the leak of the internal document on social media, the ministry is currently investigating the source. If it is proven to have originated internally and violated document management regulations, action will be taken in accordance with applicable rules. The ministry assured that all state budget usage is carried out accountably, transparently, and in compliance with laws and regulations.