Just Take It Off! Prabowo Angry South Aceh Regent Goes Umrah When Residents Are Affected By Disasters

President Prabowo Subianto (doc the Presidential Media Team)

JAKARTA - Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto touched on the attitude of the South Aceh Regent, Mirwan MS, who performed Umrah when his area was affected by flash floods and landslides.

This was conveyed by Prabowo while chairing a coordination meeting at the Integrated Disaster Management Command Post at the Indonesian Air Force Base (Lanud) Sultan Iskandar Muda, Aceh Besar District, Aceh, Sunday, December 7 evening.

Initially, the President expressed his appreciation to the regents in Aceh Province who had attended a coordination meeting with all central and regional stakeholders.

"Thank you to the regents, those of you who continue to fight for the people. Indeed, you were chosen to face difficulties," said the President as witnessed on the YouTube account of the Presidential Secretariat.

Even though he laughed as if he was joking, President Prabowo gave a firm warning to regional heads who wanted to "run away" during a disaster.

However, Prabowo asked the Minister of Home Affairs Tito Karnavian who was also present at the meeting to take firm steps against Mirwan.

"If anyone wants to run, just run, it's okay. Take it off immediately. Can the Minister of Home Affairs be processed? Can you?" Prabowo asked the Minister of Home Affairs.

Prabowo, who has a military background, even said that in military terms, Mirwan's attitude was a desertion, which meant leaving his men.

The Head of State then asked the Minister of Foreign Affairs Sugiono who is also the Secretary General of the Gerindra Party Central Executive Board regarding the dismissal of Mirwan from the party he leads.

"That's if the soldier is called the desertion. In danger of leaving his subordinates. Wow, that can't be done. I don't want to ask which party. Have you fired?" Prabowo said.

Based on the information gathered, Mirwan MS stated that he was unable to deal with disasters that occurred in his area, due to the impact of flash floods and landslides that hit three provinces, namely Aceh, North Sumatra and West Sumatra.

However, on December 2, 2025, Mirwan M.S. and his wife decided to go for Umrah and drew criticism because their area was still affected by the disaster.

On December 5, 2025, Aceh Governor Muzakir Manaf stated that he had never issued a permit to Mirwan MS to carry out Umrah during an emergency response period in the area.

The Gerindra Party's Central Leadership Council (DPP) finally dismissed South Aceh Regent Mirwan MS as Chairman of the Gerindra Branch Leadership Council (DPC) in the area. This was conveyed by the Secretary General of the Gerindra Party DPP, Sugiono, after receiving a report regarding the South Aceh Regent.

"We have decided to dismiss the person concerned as Chairman of the South Aceh Gerindra DPC. Earlier, I was reported about the South Aceh Regent who is also the Chair of the Gerindra DPC of South Aceh Regency. It is unfortunate that the attitude and leadership concerned," he said.