Bobby Nasution: Government Cars Not for Holidays, ASN North Sumatra Prohibited from Going Home Using State Vehicles

North Sumatra Governor Bobby Nasution (ANTARA)

MEDAN - North Sumatra Governor Bobby Nasution has banned state civil servants (ASN) in the North Sumatra Provincial Government from using official cars for homecoming on Eid al-Fitr 1447 Hijriah.

"Yes, it's not allowed, if it's ASN in the North Sumatra Provincial Government, you go home by using a government car," said Bobby at the North Sumatra Governor's Office, Medan, accompanied by Antara Monday, March 9.

According to Bobby, government-owned official cars can only be used to support daily government activities and support the operational work of ASN in carrying out their duties.

He emphasized that government vehicles should not be used for personal purposes, including for homecoming trips during the Lebaran holiday.

The prohibition on the use of official cars for homecoming is also in line with the provisions of the central government. The Ministry of Home Affairs and the Corruption Eradication Commission previously reminded that the use of state assets for personal interests is a form of abuse.

The provision is contained in the Minister of State Apparatus and Bureaucratic Reform Regulation Number PER/87/M.PAN/8/2005 concerning Guidelines for Improving the Implementation of Efficiency, Savings, and Work Discipline.

"The official car is to support performance, not to support holidays," said Bobby.

Meanwhile, the government has set eight days of collective leave in 2026 through a Joint Decree (SKB) signed by the Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture, the Minister of Religion, the Minister of State Apparatus and Bureaucratic Reform, and the Minister of Manpower.

Coordinating Minister for Social and Cultural Affairs Pratikno said the total national holidays in 2026 were 17 days, with an additional eight days of joint leave that had been agreed upon across ministries.

"For a total of 17 days of national holidays, while the joint leave that is being discussed across ministries has been agreed upon as many as eight days in 2026," said Pratikno.

The eight days of joint leave include February 16, 2026, which is adjacent to the Chinese New Year 2577 Kongzili, March 18, 2026, which is adjacent to Holy Day of Silence, and March 20, 23, and 24, 2026, which are related to Eid al-Fitr 1447 Hijriah.

In addition, the joint holiday is also set on May 15, 2026, which is adjacent to the Ascension of Jesus Christ, May 28, 2026, which is adjacent to Iduladha 1447 Hijriah, and December 24, 2026, which is adjacent to Christmas Day.

Minister of State Apparatus Utilization and Bureaucratic Reform Rini Widyantini stated that the joint leave also applies to ASN in accordance with the provisions in Government Regulation Number 11 of 2017 which has been amended through Government Regulation Number 17 of 2020 concerning the Management of Civil Servants.

"Later a Presidential Decree will be issued for ASN leave," said Rini.

Minister of Religion Nasaruddin Umar assessed that the decision regarding the national holiday and joint leave in 2026 had considered justice for all religious people in Indonesia.

"It's very fair, Islam has five days off, Catholic-Protestant Christians four times, Hindus once, Buddhists once, Confucianists once," he said.

Meanwhile, Deputy Minister of Manpower Afriansyah Noor said the decision had been through an agreement from a number of technical teams from related ministries.

"We have agreed on eight days as a joint holiday. Insyaallah this goes smoothly and in 2026 everything will be fine," he said.