Jakarta. South Aceh Regent Mirwan has been removed from his position as local chairman of the Gerindra Party and will be investigated by the Ministry of Home Affairs after he left his disaster-hit region to perform Umrah in Saudi Arabia.

Mirwan is scheduled to return on Sunday and will be questioned by the ministry’s Inspectorate, spokesperson Benni Irwan said on Friday.

“He has admitted that he did not receive permission from either the governor or the home affairs minister before traveling for Umrah,” Benni said in a statement.

Mirwan departed for Saudi Arabia on December 2 while Aceh, West Sumatra, and North Sumatra were under emergency status following devastating floods and landslides. More than 900 people have died in recent weeks, hundreds remain missing, and thousands have been displaced.

Prior to leaving, Mirwan had caused controversy by stating that the scale of the disaster exceeded his ability to manage its aftermath.

“We deeply regret his decision after learning through the media that the South Aceh regent was performing Umrah while his region was suffering from disaster,” Benni said. “The presence of a regional leader is crucial, especially when communities are facing destruction and limitations in emergency response.”

Separately, Sugiono — Gerindra’s secretary-general and Indonesia’s foreign minister — confirmed that Mirwan has been dismissed as chair of the party’s South Aceh branch.

“We decided to remove him from his position as head of the Gerindra branch in South Aceh,” Sugiono said, adding that the decision followed reports on Mirwan’s conduct and leadership during the disaster.

Aceh Governor Muzakir Manaf also said he never granted permission for Mirwan to leave during the emergency period.

Mirwan was sworn in as South Aceh regent on February 17, 2025.