Crowded With Criticism, West Sumatra Governor Mahyeldi Hands Over A New Pajero Sport Official Car For The COVID-19 Task Force

PHOTO BETWEEN

PADANG - West Sumatra Governor Mahyeldi handed over a new official car for the operation of the COVID-19 Task Force. Mahyeldi decided to use a private car after previously buying a new official car was criticized by a number of political parties in the DPRD.

"Observing the issue of official cars in the last two days, on behalf of myself and the government, I first apologize to all parties for causing unrest and becoming a public discussion," Mahyeldi said in Padang, quoted by Antara, Thursday, August 19.

He explained that the purchase of the new official car had been budgeted since 2020 before being elected as the Governor of West Sumatra proposed by the West Sumatra DPRD and in accordance with the procedures and mechanisms in the government.

In addition, the old official car several times experienced technical damage, thus hampering the mobilization of services to the regions so that for the time being he was loaned a car by one of the service heads in the hope that services to the community would continue to be carried out.

Mahyeldi explained that the new official Pajero Sport Dakar 4x4 SUV was provided by the household and has been used since one month ago for regional activities in the context of coordinating the response to COVID-19 because four regions in West Sumatra are included in PPKM level 4.

"Even in the process of buying the car, budget savings can be made up to 40 percent of the existing ceiling," he said.

"In order to emphasize the commitment to handling COVID-19 and proof of concern for the community, I have instructed the relevant SKPD to transfer the function of the governor's official car to an operational car for handling COVID-19," he continued.

The plan is that the old official car will also be auctioned so that the funds can be allocated for the prevention of COVID-19.

Mahyeldi emphasized that as a PKS cadre since becoming a member of the DPRD, Deputy Mayors, Mayors, and Governors will always be at the forefront in providing role models and services to the community.

As directed by the chairman of the PKS Shura Council, Salim Segaf al Jufri, he will temporarily use a private car for public service needs, he said.

"PKS has donated me to serve the people. So I will continue to be committed to serving the people as well as possible," he said.

Meanwhile, Head of the General Bureau of the West Sumatra Provincial Government, Rosail Akhyar, said that in supporting the governor's operations according to existing regulations, his party provided two types of official vehicles, namely sedans and jeeps.

He conveyed that the purchase of a new official car is an integral part of dealing with COVID-19, because the governor has the task of completing cross-district and city affairs including handling COVID-19, so he is required to have high mobility.

Previously, a number of parties in the West Sumatra DPRD assessed that the purchase of a new official car for the Governor and Deputy Governor of West Sumatra was inappropriate because in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.

West Sumatra DPRD member Nofrizon regretted the governor and deputy governor who bought new official cars in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.

"We are very sorry, we are still in a pandemic and "refocusing" the budget for handling COVID-19, in fact some are buying new official cars," he said.