Uproar Over Rp8.5bn Official Vehicle: Golkar Urges East Kalimantan Governor to Listen to Public
Golkar’s Secretary-General Muhammad Sarmuji stated that the party has requested clarification from East Kalimantan Governor Rudy Mas’ud regarding the procurement of an official vehicle budgeted at Rp8.5 billion. Golkar has asked its party member to listen to public opinion whilst maintaining efficiency.
“We have already communicated with the East Kalimantan Governor. We have asked him to listen more to public opinion amid efficiency concerns,” Sarmuji told reporters on Friday, 27 February 2026.
He acknowledged that the terrain in East Kalimantan is indeed difficult to traverse and requires specific vehicle specifications. Nevertheless, Sarmuji reminded that the proposed budget must also be measured against the current conditions of the people.
“Based on the Governor’s explanation, this budget was approved in 2024 but a vehicle with those specifications requires custom ordering. East Kalimantan has challenging terrain and covers an area equivalent to the size of Java Island. But regardless, we must measure it against the conditions of our people, not by personal standards,” he said.
Sarmuji noted that East Kalimantan Governor Rudy Mas’ud continues to use his personal vehicle for official travel. Golkar hopes for a wise decision regarding the official vehicle.
“The Governor also explained that he is still using a personal vehicle as his official vehicle. I conveyed that this is better, although the Governor is fundamentally entitled to an official vehicle. It happens that the Governor has the means and is willing to use his personal vehicle,” he added.
The Rp8.5 billion budget matter was initially explained by East Kalimantan’s Regional Secretary, Sri Wahyuni. According to Antara, on Tuesday, 24 February, Sri stated that the procurement plan had undergone careful consideration based on the needs of official duties and the effectiveness of the regional head’s work.
She explained that the operational vehicle was intended to reach areas across East Kalimantan with extreme geographical characteristics. The official vehicle must be able to navigate the heavy terrain in East Kalimantan.
“The Governor is committed to directly monitoring every issue in remote areas. For example, during a visit to Bongan, he wanted to see for himself the condition of the roads that residents complained about. To reach critical points with such heavy terrain, a reliable and representative vehicle is needed,” said Sri Wahyuni.