Apparently Governor Mualem Did Not Allow South Aceh Regent Umrah In The Middle Of Benana

Aceh Governor Muzakir Manaf. BETWEEN/HO-Humas Aceh Provincial Government

BANDA ACEH - Aceh Governor Muzakir Manaf (Mualem) emphasized that he had never issued a permit to the South Aceh Regent Mirwan MS to carry out Umrah in the midst of floods and landslides in the area called the "Land of Rencong".

"No, I signed (the permit) even though the Minister of Home Affairs signed it, it's up to you," he said in Banda Aceh, Friday, December 5, as reported by ANTARA.

Previously, the Regent of South Aceh, Mirwan MS and his wife, had departed for Umrah since Tuesday (2/12). The departure has drawn criticism considering that Aceh is being hit by a disaster, including in the district he leads.

Mualem reminded all officials in Aceh not to travel first during the emergency response period of the hydrometeorological disaster that was being hit by Aceh.

"For the time being, don't go, he (the Regent of South Aceh) also leaves," he said.

The South Aceh Regency Government explained that the departure of the Umrah of the South Aceh Regent with his wife after working in the field ensured that every handling of disaster victims was handled.

"The departure of the regent and his wife was carried out after seeing the situation in South Aceh in general which was already stable and the disaster victims were handled properly," said South Aceh Regional Secretary Diva Samudra Putra.

He said the regent and his wife had been carrying out Umrah since Tuesday (2/12). Departure of the regional head after distributing aid to disaster victims in Trumon Raya.

He denied the narrative that said the South Aceh Regent Mirwan MS left his people when the disaster was still ongoing.

"The narrative is not true, the displaced disaster victims have returned to their homes. This is proof of the solidity of all parties in handling floods and landslides in South Aceh Regency," he said.

Based on information received by ANTARA from the Acehm Government on November 24, 2025, the Regent of South Aceh submitted a request for an overseas travel permit for important reasons to the Governor of Aceh.

On the basis of consideration that Aceh is being hit by natural disasters due to tropical cyclones, the Governor of Aceh has declared an emergency status for the 2025 Aceh hydrometeorological disaster.

On November 28, 2025, the governor submitted a written reply that the request could not be granted or rejected.

In particular, South Aceh is one of the districts severely affected by the current disaster, while the regent has established an emergency response status for handling floods and landslides in the local area.