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Head of BP Batam takes leave, duties to be handled by deputy head
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T
he head of the Batam Free Trade and Free Port Zone Authority (BP Batam), Muhammad Rudi, has officially submitted a request for unpaid leave given his position as the mayor of Batam, which also makes him the ex-officio head of BP Batam.
Muhammad Rudi has requested leave to campaign in the 2024 Riau Islands governor and deputy governor Election.
The leave request is based on a letter to the Office of the Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs, No. B-100/KA/RT.00/9/2024, dated Sept. 19, regarding permission for unpaid leave to carry out campaign activities.
As the ex-officio head of BP Batam, he submitted this request to the Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs, who serves as the chairperson of the Batam Free Trade and Free Port Zone Council (Batam Zone Council).
Secretary of the Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs and chairperson of the Batam Zone Council's technical team, Susiwijono Moegiarso, explained that this was in accordance with Law No. 10/2016 and General Elections Commission (KPU) Regulation No. 2/2024, which state that a mayor running for re-election in the same area must take unpaid leave during the campaign period.
"In response to the leave request from the head of BP Batam, the Office of the Coordinating Minister of Economic Affairs has reviewed it from a regulatory perspective," said Susiwijono.
This is in line with the provisions of Article 70, paragraphs (3) and (4) of Law No. 10/2016 (second amendment to Law No. 1/2015 on the enactment of Perpu No. 1/2014 concerning the election of governors, regents and mayors), which stipulates that regional heads running in elections must take unpaid leave during the campaign period.
Susiwijono further elaborated that KPU Regulation No. 2/2024 regarding the timeline and schedule for the 2024 election of governors, regents, mayors and their deputies stipulates that the campaign will take place from Sept. 25 to Nov. 23.
Additionally, according to Article 2A, paragraph (1e) of Government Regulation No. 62/2019 (second amendment to Government Regulation No. 46/2007 on Batam Free Trade and Free Port Zone), if the head of BP Batam is temporarily absent (due to unpaid leave), his duties and powers will be performed by the deputy head of BP Batam.
"Based on these provisions, the approval for leave is granted by the Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs as the chairperson of the Batam Zone Council, and the duties and powers of the head of BP Batam will be carried out by the deputy head," said Susiwijono.
As a result, Muhammad Rudi has been approved for unpaid leave from Sept. 25 to Nov. 23, and his responsibilities as head of BP Batam will be carried out by the deputy head of BP Batam during this period.
After the leave ends on Nov. 23, Muhammad Rudi is required to resume his duties and powers as head of BP Batam until the end of his term.
"Note that the authority to approve leave from the Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs only applies to the role of head of BP Batam. Approval for leave as mayor of Batam is the authority of the governor on behalf of the Home Minister," concluded Susiwijono.
