An Indonesian Army soldier (left) and an Aceh Police Mobile Brigade personnel (right) helping a man and two children evacuate through a flood on Nov. 29, in Central Trumon district, South Aceh regency, Aceh. The provinces of Aceh, North Sumatra and West Sumatra were badly hit by flooding and landslides caused by an extreme weather. - Antara
MEDAN: South Aceh Regent Mirwan MS has been widely criticised for making the umrah pilgrimage with his family members amid floods and landslides affecting 11 of the 18 districts in the regency.
Mirwan and his family departed on Tuesday (Dec 2) after issuing a letter on Nov 27 declaring his inability as regent to handle the disaster response in the regency.
Aceh provincial administration spokesman Teuku Kamaruzzaman said that Aceh Governor Muzakkir Manaf had not approved Mirwan’s request to make the umrah pilgrimage amid emergency status during the extreme flooding and landslides in Aceh.
Kamruzzaman said that the refusal was issued in a letter dated Nov 28 answering Mirwan’s request letter dated Nov 24.
“The governor refused South Aceh Regent Mirwan's request as Aceh had been hit by a natural disaster and was in an emergency,” Kamaruzzaman told The Jakarta Post on Saturday.
“Mirwan, however, still departed for Mecca.”
He also said that the provincial administration has received information from the Home Ministry saying that Mirwan had been told to return home to Aceh as soon as possible. He said that South Aceh regency needed attention from its leader during the emergency period.
While Kamaruzzaman acknowledged that parts of South Aceh had not been not severely affected by the disasters, at least two districts in the regency were severely affected.
“He could not just leave like that at a time when his residents were affected by and need help from their leader,” he said.
When asked about what kind of punishment was appropriate for the regent, Kamaruzzaman said the Aceh provincial administration did not have the authority to punish Mirwan. However, “the governor [Muzakkir] will give a harsh reprimand while for punishment, we leave it to the Home Ministry,” he said.
Meanwhile, acting South Aceh Secretary Diva Samudra Putra denied the narrative that Mirwan left his residents amid the disasters.
“The regent and his wife departed for Mecca after the condition in South Aceh became stable, and the victims were properly handled,” he said on Saturday.
Diva said that Mirwan and his wife had performed the pilgrimage since Dec 2 after distributing disaster relief aid to victims in Trumon Raya region. He also said that all evacuating victims in South Aceh have returned to their homes.
“This is a proof of the solidity of all parties in handling floods and landslides in South Aceh regency,” he said.
Mirwan said that he had directly checked the conditions of residents affected by disasters and ensured that all agencies were working properly.
“From the coordination results, the situation was already under control, meaning I could go and perform the umrah pilgrimage,” he said in a written statement, as quoted by kompas.com on Friday. In a related development, the Gerindra Party central executive board has decided to remove Mirwan from his position as the party chairman of the South Aceh branch.
“I have received reports regarding the South Aceh regent, who is also the chairman for the party branch in South Aceh. We deeply regret his attitude and leadership,” Gerindra Party secretary general Sugiono said, as quoted by kompas.com on Friday.
“Therefore, Gerindra Party central executive board has decided to remove him from his position as South Aceh party chairman.” - The Jakarta Post/ANN
