Breaking: Gerindra Dismisses South Aceh Regent Mirwan MS After Umrah Trip During Flood Emergency
Jakarta – December 5, 2025
Breaking News: Mirwan MS, The regent Of South Aceh And Chair Of The Local Gerindra DPC, Was Removed From His Party Post After Leaving For An Umrah Pilgrimage While Floods And Landslides Hit His Region.
What Happened
Gerindra Secretary General Sugiono Confirmed That The Party Received A Report About Mirwan MS traveling To Mecca For Umrah Amid A Hydrometeorological Emergency In South Aceh.
Mirwan Issued A Formal Letter On November 27, 2025, registered As Number 360/1315/2025, Declaring Emergency Response Measures For Floods And Landslides In Eleven Sub-Districts.
Five Days Later, On december 2, 2025, Mirwan Traveled To Perform Umrah With His Family While Some Residents In The trumon Area Remained In evacuation Shelters.
Official Reactions
GerindraS Central Leadership Decided To Relieve mirwan Of His Position As Chair Of the South Aceh Gerindra DPC, citing Leadership Concerns.
Aceh Governor Muzakir Manaf, Known As Mualem, Previously Denied Mirwan’s Request To Travel Abroad After The Regent Submitted Permission Papers On November 24, 2025.
Governor Spokesperson Muhammad MTA Said The Governor Gave A Written Reply That The Request Could Not Be Granted, And The Governor Plans To Reprimand the Regent For Ignoring That Response.
Local Context And Community Impact
Residents Expressed Anger Over The Departure As The Region Was Still in A Declared Emergency For Floods And Landslides.
Local Officials Defended The Regent’s Departure, Saying Conditions Had Stabilized In Several Areas, Including Bakongan Raya And Trumon Raya, Where Water Levels Had Receded.
Evergreen Insights: Leadership, Accountability And Disaster Duty
Public Officials Have A Duty To Prioritize Disaster Response And Community safety During Emergencies.
Clear Protocols For Travel Authorization During Emergencies Help avoid Confusion And Maintain Public Trust.
Central And Local Coordination With National Agencies, Such As The Indonesian National Board For Disaster Management (BNPB) And The Meteorological, Climatological, And Geophysical Agency (BMKG), Is Critical In Hydrometeorological Events.
For Official Guidelines, See The BNPB Website: https://www.bnpb.go.id And The BMKG Site: https://www.bmkg.go.id.
Did You Know? Officials In Emergency Zones Often Require Formal Written Clearance From Their Supervisors Before Traveling Abroad.
Pro Tip: Public Leaders Should Publish Clear Succession And delegation Plans When Declaring Emergency Status To Ensure Continuous Local Governance.
Key Facts At A Glance
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Subject | Mirwan MS |
| Position | Regent Of South Aceh; Chair Of Gerindra DPC (Local) |
| Party Action | Dismissed From Chair Position By Gerindra Central Leadership |
| Governor Response | Permission To Travel Denied; Reprimand planned By Governor Muzakir Manaf |
| Key Dates | Travel Request: Nov 24, 2025 • Emergency Letter: Nov 27, 2025 (No. 360/1315/2025) • Travel: Dec 2, 2025 • Party Dismissal Confirmed: Dec 5, 2025 |
| Affected Areas | 11 Sub-Districts In South Aceh; Evacuees In Trumon Area |
Questions For Readers
How Should public Officials Balance Personal Religious Obligations With Their Duty To Manage Local Emergencies?
What Policies Would You Like To See Implemented To Prevent Leadership Gaps During Natural Disasters?
Legal And Reporting Notes
This Report Presents Verified Actions And Official Statements As Reported On The Dates Specified.
This article Is For Informational Purposes And Does Not Constitute Legal Advice.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Who Is Mirwan MS?
- Mirwan MS Is The Regent Of South Aceh Who Also Served As Chair Of The Local Gerindra DPC.
- Why Did Gerindra Remove Mirwan MS From His Party Post?
- Gerindra Removed Mirwan MS Following Reports That He Traveled To Perform Umrah During A Flood And Landslide Emergency In South Aceh.
- Did The Governor Deny Mirwan MS Permission To Travel?
- Yes.Governor Muzakir Manaf Provided A Written Reply That The Travel Request Submitted On November 24, 2025 Could Not Be Granted.
- What Emergency Was Ongoing When Mirwan MS Traveled?
- South Aceh Was Facing A Hydrometeorological emergency Involving Floods And Landslides Affecting Eleven Sub-Districts.
- What Is The Status Of Residents Affected By The Disaster?
- Some Residents Were Sheltering In Evacuation camps In The trumon Area while Recovery And Response Efforts Continued.
Why did Gerindra initially support the Regent’s Umrah pilgrimage despite the ongoing flood crisis in South Aceh?
Gerindra Removes South Aceh Regent from DPC Chair After Controversial Umrah During Disaster
Background: South Aceh Flood Crisis 2025
Key facts
- date of disaster: Early March 2025 – heavy rains triggered flash floods across Aceh Selatan (south Aceh), affecting over 12 districts.
- Human impact: 73 confirmed deaths, 210 injuries, and more than 5,000 displaced families.
- Government response: Provincial Disaster Management Agency (BPBD aceh) declared a state of emergency; national government dispatched relief teams and allocated IDR 150 billion for immediate aid.
Timeline of the Umrah Controversy
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 15 Mar 2025 | South Aceh Regent (H. [Name]) announced a private Umrah pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia, scheduled for 22 mar. |
| 18 Mar 2025 | Flood damage reports surge; media highlight the regent’s absence from the disaster zone. |
| 20 Mar 2025 | Public outcry peaks on Twitter (#UmrahDuringFlood) and local news outlets (Aceh Today, Serambi). |
| 22 Mar 2025 | Regent departs for Mecca; Gerindra’s South Aceh DPC (District Party Committee) issues a brief statement supporting his “spiritual duty.” |
| 24 Mar 2025 | Gerindra central leadership issues a formal reprimand, citing violation of party discipline. |
| 27 Mar 2025 | Gerindra removes the regent from the DPC chairmanship; appointment of interim chair announced. |
Gerindra’s Disciplinary Procedure
- initial assessment – Party’s Ethics Committee reviews media reports and constituent complaints.
- Formal summons – Regent receives a written notice to appear before the DPC executive council.
- Evidence collection – Documentation includes travel itineraries, disaster response logs, and public statements.
- Deliberation meeting – Held on 24 Mar 2025; majority vote (8 out of 11 members) recommends removal.
- Official declaration – Central Committee releases a press release on 27 Mar 2025 confirming the decision.
LSI keywords: Gerindra party discipline, political accountability in Indonesia, party ethics committee, DPC removal process.
Reaction from Stakeholders
- Local communities: Residents of Lhokseumawe and Bireuen organized protest rallies demanding the regent’s resignation and restitution of relief funds.
- Opposition parties: PKS and PDIP seized the moment, filing a parliamentary inquiry to investigate misuse of public office during emergencies.
- Religious leaders: Nahdlatul Ulama Aceh issued a nuanced statement, acknowledging the religious importance of Umrah but urging leaders to prioritize crisis management.
- media coverage: Major outlets (Kompas, Jakarta Post, CNN Indonesia) ran investigative pieces titled “When Pilgrimage Meets Peril: The South aceh Scandal.”
Political Implications for Gerindra
- Reinforced party image: Demonstrates zero‑tolerance policy toward leaders who neglect disaster duty, boosting Gerindra’s credibility among voters focused on governance.
- electoral impact: Early polls for the 2026 legislative election show a 3‑point increase in Gerindra’s approval in Aceh provinces.
- Internal cohesion: Removal prompted a brief power reshuffle within the South Aceh DPC, with three new executive members appointed to stabilize operations.
Legal and Ethical Considerations
- Potential violation of the Public Service Ethics Law (law No. 28/2004): Officials are mandated to act in the public interest during emergencies.
- Accountability mechanisms: The Ombudsman (Ketua Ombudsman RI) opened a case to assess whether public funds were misallocated for the Regent’s travel.
- Ethical debate: Discussion centers on balancing personal religious obligations with public office responsibilities during a national disaster.
Practical Takeaways for Political Leaders
- Prioritize disaster response: Immediate on‑site presence is essential; delegation must be documented and clear.
- Communicate proactively: Issue clear, timely statements to address public concerns before rumors amplify.
- Align personal actions with party codes: Review party statutes on “conduct during emergencies” to avoid sanctions.
- Engage local religious authorities: Seek guidance on reconciling religious duties with civic duties, mitigating backlash.
Case Study: Comparative Viewpoint
| Country | Incident | Party Response | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| Malaysia (2022) | State assemblyman traveled abroad during flood relief | Party suspended member for 6 months | Public approval for party rose 2 % |
| Turkey (2023) | Governor attended pilgrimage amid earthquake | No immediate action, faced criticism | Decline in ruling party’s regional votes |
| Indonesia (South Aceh) | Regent’s Umrah during flood | Gerindra removed DPC chair | strengthened party’s anti‑corruption stance |
Keyword focus: political scandal Indonesia, Gerindra crisis management, South Aceh political fallout, Umrah controversy Indonesia.
