Viral Official Vehicle: Land Rover Defender Worth Rp8.5 Billion, LHKPN Reveals East Kalimantan Governor Rudi Mas'ud's Assets and Rp112.6 Billion Debt
Samarinda – The controversy surrounding the procurement of a luxury official vehicle for East Kalimantan Governor continues to dominate public discourse. The premium SUV, a Land Rover Defender OCTA valued at approximately Rp8.5 billion, has drawn scrutiny, particularly amid government narratives concerning budget efficiency.
East Kalimantan Governor Rudi Mas’ud’s name has become increasingly prominent in the debate. Beyond the official vehicle issue, the public has also focused attention on his asset declaration report (LHKPN), which reveals substantial debts exceeding Rp112 billion.
Mas’ud previously addressed the controversy, clarifying that the new official vehicle has not yet been deployed in East Kalimantan. “Regarding the vehicle, to date the East Kalimantan provincial government has not provided a vehicle for use in East Kalimantan. So there is no vehicle here; what exists today is a private vehicle being used. The provincial government vehicle is currently available only in Jakarta. Why in Jakarta? Firstly, to support activities and functions of the regional head,” he explained.
He further emphasised that the procurement of official vehicles for regional leaders relates to representing the region at national and international levels. “East Kalimantan is the new national capital; East Kalimantan is a miniature of Indonesia. Visitors to East Kalimantan include not only regional heads from across Indonesia but also from the global sphere. Surely the regional head should not travel in a substandard vehicle. We must maintain East Kalimantan’s dignity; this represents East Kalimantan’s prestige and the people’s dignity,” he stated.
Regarding the price, Mas’ud noted that the procurement adheres to regulations governing engine capacity for regional leader vehicles. “According to Interior Ministry Regulation No. 7 of 2006, official vehicles for regional heads must have a 3,000 cc engine capacity; for Jeeps, 4,200 cc. The vehicle we procured has a 3,000 cc engine. Regarding price, there is a quality standard for every price point. We did not determine the price; we simply ordered the vehicle according to Interior Ministry regulations,” he stated.
According to automotive sources, the Defender OCTA is the flagship variant of the Defender family, introduced globally in 2024. The premium SUV is engineered for maximum off-road capability whilst delivering luxury-class comfort.