Indonesian governor under fire over viral Singapore breakfast photo as haze chokes his province

Indonesian Governor Rudy faces criticism over a viral photo of him at a Singapore hotel, as his province battles severe haze caused by wildfires. The image, shared on social media, garnered over 11,000 likes, with commenters accusing Rudy of enjoying himself abroad while his constituents suffer from poor air quality. Indonesia is currently experiencing its most intense El Nino-fueled wildfire season in 11 years, leading to a significant increase in respiratory illnesses.

As of October 12, 277,075 cases were reported across seven provinces, more than double the 113,336 cases recorded on September 9.

Rudy defended his trip, stating that he underwent a medical check-up at Mount Elizabeth Hospital due to his poor health caused by the heavy workload. He claimed the appointment was set for a weekend to avoid disrupting government work, and he returned to Jakarta by midday on October 12 and Balikpapan that afternoon. The trip was approved verbally by Home Affairs Minister Tito Karnavian and with a written request as the government offices were closed for the weekend. Rudy paid for the trip himself, not using the provincial budget.

Deputy Home Affairs Minister Bima Arya Sugiarto confirmed that Tito approved the trip for health reasons, with the condition that it was short and that Rudy maintained coordination with the disaster response. However, Bima warned that the ministry would take action if there was evidence that Rudy had attended the Formula 1 Singapore Grand Prix.

Earlier this year, Rudy faced criticism for purchasing a Range Rover worth Rp8.5 billion ($475,000) as his official car, which he later returned amid public outcry. In May, 21 provincial lawmakers signed a motion to open a formal inquiry into his administration following student and labor protests in Samarinda.