SAMARINDA,LITERASIHUKUM.COM - The leadership dispute of East Kalimantan Governor Rudy Mas'ud began to heat up at the end of February 2026. Residents of Samarinda and its surroundings were shocked by the news of the procurement of a new official car for the governor, budgeted through the 2025 Budget Amendment with a staggering value of Rp8.5 billion. Not just any car, this luxury vehicle immediately became the talk of various social media platforms and national news. The figure was considered highly unreasonable, especially amidst the intense campaign for budget efficiency promoted by the central government following President Prabowo Subianto's instruction on state expenditure savings.

The public then hurled criticisms repeatedly. Many questioned the priorities of Rudy Mas'ud's policies, which were deemed insensitive to the economic conditions of the people who were still struggling. Rudy Mas'ud, feeling cornered, then offered a defense through several media interviews. He argued that the luxury car was not for a lifestyle, but to maintain the "dignity" of East Kalimantan as a buffer region for the Capital City of Nusantara (IKN). "East Kalimantan is the state capital, a miniature of Indonesia. Our guests are not only regional heads from all over Indonesia, but also global guests. How can the regional head use a car of such low quality?" he said. However, this defense only further fueled waves of criticism.

The increasing pressure came not only from civil society and anti-corruption activists but also from within his own party, the Golkar Party, and even from the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK). The Deputy Minister of Home Affairs, Bima Arya Sugiarto, also spoke out and asked the Governor to reconsider the purchase plan, which was deemed contradictory to the spirit of efficiency. In early March 2026, under immense pressure, the East Kalimantan Provincial Government finally made a dramatic decision to cancel the controversial plan. Rudy Mas'ud then issued his first public apology through a written statement.