Vice Minister of Home Affairs Confirms East Kalimantan Governor's Approval to Travel to Singapore for Health Check
Deputy Minister of Home Affairs Bima Arya Sugiarto confirmed on Wednesday that East Kalimantan Governor Rudy Ma'sud has received ministerial approval to travel to Singapore for medical reasons, despite ongoing forest fire emergencies in his province.
Speaking at the Coordinating Ministry for Food Affairs in Jakarta on October 14, 2026, Bima stated that the governor submitted a formal request to Home Affairs Minister Tito Karnavian, who granted the permission with specific conditions attached.
"The East Kalimantan governor has submitted a request for approval to the Minister of Home Affairs. Since he mentioned the need for a health check, the Minister has granted the permission," Bima explained. The deputy minister, who has held his position since October 21, 2024, after serving as Mayor of Bogor for a decade, emphasized that the approval came with clear expectations.
Conditions and Duration of Travel
The permission includes explicit instructions that Governor Ma'sud must not extend his stay in Singapore and should coordinate prompt disaster response efforts. "The approval included some notes, because this is for health reasons," Bima said, adding that the minister expects the governor to return directly to active duty focusing on disaster management.
While Bima did not specify the exact duration, he indicated the approval was likely for one or two days at most, possibly coinciding with the weekend. The brief timeframe reflects the urgency of the situation in East Kalimantan, where Governor Ma'sud, who assumed office on February 20, 2025, after winning 55.66% of votes in the November 2024 election, faces mounting pressure to address environmental crises.
Severe Forest Fire Situation
The timing of the governor's travel has drawn scrutiny given the severe forest and land fire situation affecting East Kalimantan. As of October 11, 2026, the province has experienced fires across 8,516.68 hectares, with air quality in major cities including the Capital City Nusantara, Samarinda, and Balikpapan categorized as unhealthy due to thick haze.
The province of approximately 4.27 million people is experiencing a very strong El Niño event with an index of 3.44, which is delaying the onset of the rainy season and prolonging fire conditions that are expected to continue until November 2026. The fires have been primarily driven by human activities including land clearing for agriculture and mining, with 74% of hotspots in Kalimantan located within corporate concession areas.
Social Media Allegations
The approval has sparked controversy on social media, with claims circulating that Governor Ma'sud traveled to Singapore to attend the Formula 1 Grand Prix, which was held at the Marina Bay Street Circuit from October 9-11, 2026, with the main race taking place on October 11.
Bima acknowledged these claims but stated he has not monitored such allegations closely. However, he warned that if evidence emerges that the governor engaged in activities beyond medical consultation, there would be consequences. "We are less monitoring that issue. But if there's evidence, there would certainly be further considerations. If it turns out to be true since the permission was granted only for health reasons," he said.
The deputy minister encouraged the public to report any evidence of misconduct to the Ministry of Home Affairs, emphasizing that the approval was strictly for medical purposes.
Political Context
The scrutiny of Governor Ma'sud's travel comes amid a politically sensitive period. In April 2026, he faced large-scale protests in Samarinda, with 2,000 to 7,000 demonstrators demanding his resignation over controversies including nepotism allegations and an attempt to procure a Range Rover worth Rp 8.5 billion for official use.
As forest fires continue to threaten public health and the environment across East Kalimantan, the governor's brief absence for medical reasons has intensified public attention on his leadership during a critical disaster response period.
