Ministry Of Home Affairs Reprimanded For Removing Principal, Mayor Of Prabumulih: Without This Incident, I Can't Control Myself

Mayor Of Prabumulih, Arlan/PHOTO: Diah Ayu-VOI

JAKARTA - The Mayor of Prabumulih, Arlan, again apologized to the public after receiving a warning from the Ministry of Home Affairs (Kemendagri). This reprimand was handed down to Arlan regarding the dismissal of the Principal of SMPN 1 Prabumulih.

The news circulating said Rony was transferred after reprimanding Arlan's son for bringing a car to school. In a press conference, Arlan emphasized that he had realized his mistake and apologized to the public.

"First of all, I apologize to all Indonesian people. And especially the people of Prabumulih, which I have admitted my mistake for this incident. And this makes a lesson for me and learns for me," said Arlan at the Itjen Ministry of Home Affairs office, Central Jakarta, Thursday, September 18.

Arlan also apologized directly to the Principal of SMPN 1. He realized his mistake which resulted in the central government stepping in and giving him a written warning.

"Without this incident, it made me unable to control myself. With this incident, I took a lesson," he said.

Arlan then explained the chronology of events that were the source of the commotion. According to him, the incident did not occur during school hours, but on holidays, September 5.

"At that incident, sir, it was at hours, not school hours, on the red date, the 5th. These children played drum band training, 150 meters from school to training," explained Arlan.

When training was over, heavy rain flushed. The children returned to school in a soaking wet state. Including Arlan's son who was escorted by the driver.

"So my son was escorted by the driver, sir, not taken by himself. He was not allowed to go in, he immediately left. As soon as he left, it was finished. It was raining, all the children were all wet, sir. And so far my child has never been, sir, wants to enter a car or anything at school, never," he said.

Meanwhile, the Inspector General (Irjen) of the Ministry of Home Affairs Sang Made Mahendra Jaya said that his party stated that the inauguration of the Principal of SMP Negeri 1 Prabumulih Roni Ardiansyah on the orders of the Mayor Prabumulih Arlan was not in accordance with the provisions.

"The results of the examination, transfer or transfer of the positions of Roni Ardiansyah's brother, the Head of SMP Negeri 1 Prabumulih, are not in accordance with the provisions of Article 28 of the Regulation of the Minister of Basic and Secondary Education Number 7 of 2025 concerning the Assignment of Teachers as Principals," said Mahendra.

Article 28 paragraph (2) stipulates that school principals can be dismissed if they retire, end the assignment period, commit moderate or serious disciplinary violations, be appointed to other positions, the results of poor performance assessments, carry out learning assignments for six consecutive months or more, become party members, and/or occupy state positions.

In addition, Mahendra said Roni's transfer mechanism was not carried out through the School Principal Management Information System, School Supervisory, and Education Personnel (SIM KSPSTK) application.

It is known that this chaos stems from the issue that the Head of SMPN 1 Prabumulih, Roni Ardiansyah, was transferred after reprimanding a student who was said to be the mayor's son for taking a car to the school area. The car is parked in the field which will be used for drumben exercises.

The issue went viral quickly because the public considered the principal's mutation as a form of pressure. A number of media also said that school security guards were also affected.

Mayor Arlan had denied the allegations. He emphasized that he had never removed the school principal or security guard just because of a warning against his son. According to him, the mutation is part of the organizational rotation. Meanwhile, regarding his son, Arlan explained that his son was only delivered by car, not bringing his own vehicle to school.

This controversy attracted public attention to the spotlight of national figures. Mayor Prabumulih Harlan then clarified the issue. Now, Roni Ardiansyah has returned to his activities as head of SMPN 1 Prabumulih. Likewise with Ageng security personnel.