Jakarta. BP Batam head Muhammad Rudi has officially taken a leave from office to focus on the 2024 Riau Islands gubernatorial election. 

Rudi applied for the so-called “leave outside the state’s responsibility” to the economic affairs chief minister as Batam’s council chairperson last week. Susiwijono Moegiarso, the ministry’s secretary and the council’s technical team head, said that Rudi’s leave application aligned with the existing regulations.

Muhammad Rudi is also the mayor of Batam. Indonesia mandates mayors who get renominated in the same region must take a leave outside the state’s responsibility during the campaign season.

According to Susiwijono, the regional election campaign season will start on September 25 and will go on until November 23. The existing regulations also state that BP Batam head’s responsibilities will be handed over to the development body’s deputy. Muhammad Rudi, however, must return as the BP Batam head after his leave period ends on November 23. He should also carry out his duties until the end of his term.

“But the Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs is only in charge of approving the leave request for [Muhammad Rudi] in his capacity as the BP Batam head. The leave approval for the Batam mayor is up to the governor on behalf of the Home Affairs Minister,” Susiwijono said.