Jakarta –
Deputy Minister of Home Affairs Bima Arya said the Inspectorate General Ministry of Home Affairs checking Regent of South Aceh Mirwan MS went on Umrah in the midst of a disaster. Bima said that his party would also examine the source of funding for the Umrah.
“Is it true that the Umrah pilgrimage, with whom, where the funding comes from, is important. So the inspection will definitely not only be carried out by the Regent of South Aceh, but the apparatus and all those related to the departure will be inspected. It may take several days, the next few days,” said Bima after attending the performance report of Commission II of the DPR at the parliament complex, Senayan, Jakarta, Monday (8/12/2025).
Bima emphasized that the Ministry of Home Affairs had repeatedly reminded regional heads to be prepared for potential disasters. He said the warning had been conveyed through meetings, circulars, and direct appeals.
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“So when the BMKG issued a warning, the Minister of Home Affairs had already conveyed directions. Then, there was another circular, and then when there was an incident, the Regent of Aceh was reminded again by the Ministry of Home Affairs, so we continuously reminded it,” he said.
“Yes, the regional head should have caught all of this and the party leaders would have also supervised their cadres like that,” he continued.
President Prabowo Subianto previously criticized South Aceh Regent Mirwan MS for going on Umrah without permission when his area was affected by a disaster. Prabowo asked Home Affairs Minister Tito Karnavian to process Mirwan.
This was conveyed by Prabowo at a meeting on accelerating disaster management in Sumatra which was held at Sultan Iskandar Muda Air Base, Aceh Besar, Aceh, Sunday (7/12). In this meeting, ministers from the ranks of the Red and White Cabinet were present.
“If you want to run, run aja “It’s okay, the Minister of Home Affairs can be removed, yes, it will be processed,” said Prabowo.
“That’s if soldiers deserted and were in danger of leaving their men behind, that’s not possible that’s it, I’m sorry“I don’t want to ask which party,” he added.
Watch the video ‘Prabowo’s allusion to the Regent of South Aceh who was ‘Running’ from Disaster’:
(amw/rfs)
## Summary of the Umrah Funding Controversy in South Aceh
Home Affairs Ministry Investigates Umrah Funding for South Aceh Regent Amid Disaster
Published on 2025/12/08 11:21:35 | archyde.com
Background of the South Aceh Disaster
Timeline of the 2024-2025 Flood Events
- November 2024 – Heavy monsoon rains trigger flash floods in South Aceh (Kabupaten Aceh Selatan).
- December 2024 – River overflow damages over 1,200 homes and displaces 8,000 residents.
- January 2025 – Government declares a local state of emergency; the National Disaster Management Authority (BNPB) allocates IDR 350 billion for emergency relief.
- March 2025 – Follow‑up assessments reveal ongoing landslide risk, prompting additional IDR 120 billion for reconstruction.
Immediate Impact
- human toll: 27 fatalities, 112 injuries.
- Infrastructure loss: 3 primary schools, 2 health clinics, and 15 km of road networks.
- Economic disruption: Agriculture output fell by 38 % in the affected districts.
Overview of the Umrah Funding Controversy
Allocation of Disaster Relief Funds
- The South Aceh Regent’s Office received IDR 470 billion from the central government to finance shelter, food aid, and infrastructure repair.
- official budgeting documents (2024‑2025) list “Relief & Reconstruction” as the sole purpose of the fund.
Reported Umrah Expenses
- In April 2025, local media (kompas, Detik) published a leaked receipt showing IDR 12 billion spent on group Umrah pilgrimage for the Regent, his family, and selected officials.
- The receipt cites “Spiritual Support for Affected Communities” as the justification-an interpretation not covered by existing disaster‑relief statutes.
Role of the Ministry of Home Affairs (Kementerian Dalam Negeri)
legal Framework for Fund Oversight
- Law No. 2/2008 on Regional Governance mandates strict accounting for Bantuan Keadaan Darurat (BKD).
- Presidential Decree No. 135/2023 requires every regional head to submit quarterly audit reports to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MoHA).
Investigative Steps Initiated by MoHA
- step 1 – Document Review: Request for all financial statements, receipts, and bank transfers related to the IDR 470 billion allocation.
- Step 2 – Field Audit: Deployment of a Special Audit Team to the Regent’s office and the local BNPB coordination center.
- Step 3 – Stakeholder Interviews: Formal hearings with NGOs, community leaders, and the Regent’s finance department.
- Step 4 – Coordination with KPK (Corruption Eradication Commission) for potential criminal proceedings.
Potential Legal and Administrative Outcomes
Disciplinary Actions
- Administrative sanction: Possible removal from office under Article 66 of the Civil Servants Law.
- Financial restitution: Requirement to reimburse the full IDR 12 billion Umrah expense to the state budget.
Recovery of Misused Funds
- Asset freezing: Immediate freeze of bank accounts linked to the umrah transaction.
- Public procurement review: Examination of any contracts awarded to travel agencies involved in the pilgrimage.
Stakeholder Perspectives
- Local NGOs (e.g., Aceh relief Network): “Transparency in disaster‑relief spending is non‑negotiable; misallocation erodes public trust.”
- Religious councils (Majelis Ulama Aceh): Emphasize that Umrah can be a charitable act, but it must not replace basic humanitarian aid.
- Regent’s Office (official statement): Claims the Umrah was a “spiritual morale‑boosting program” for victims and that all expenses where pre‑approved by the provincial finance department.
Practical Tips for Public Officials on Clear Fund Management
- Separate accounts – Keep disaster‑relief funds in a dedicated ledger that is inaccessible for unrelated expenditures.
- Real‑time reporting – Publish monthly spend summaries on an open‑access portal to enable citizen oversight.
- Third‑party audits – Engage self-reliant auditors annually; disclose audit findings publicly.
- Clear procurement policies – Require competitive bidding for all services,including travel and accommodation.
- Stakeholder validation – Involve community representatives in the approval process for any non‑essential spending.
Related Cases and Precedents
- 2019 – West Java Regent Umrah Scandal: Misuse of IDR 8 billion led to a six‑month suspension and mandatory repayment.
- 2021 – Central Sulawesi Flood Relief Misallocation: KPK recovered IDR 15 billion after investigation into “pilgrimage bonuses.”
- 2023 – East Kalimantan Disaster Fund Audit: Revealed 5 % of allocated resources were diverted to private religious tours; resulted in new regional oversight board.
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