Habanusantara.net – After nearly two weeks undergoing a medical check-up in Singapore, Aceh Governor Muzakir Manaf—affectionately known as Mualem—has returned to Indonesia. He landed at Kualanamu International Airport in North Sumatra on Wednesday morning, May 14, 2025, and immediately continued his overland journey toward Aceh.
During his trip, Mualem made a stop in Langsa City to enjoy a warm lunch with East Aceh Regent, Iskandar Usman Al-Farlaky, at the popular Sop Tamora restaurant. The informal gathering carried a sense of comfort and camaraderie, with Mualem, accompanied by his wife Salmawati, appearing fit and in good spirits.
Laughter often echoed between the serious discussions held by the two Acehnese leaders. Their interaction marked not only a personal reunion but also symbolized Mualem’s return to the public stage following his brief health-related leave.
“Mualem is healthy and energetic. He was in a light mood and joked around a lot. The atmosphere was very relaxed and warm,” said Regent Iskandar Usman Al-Farlaky after the lunch meeting.
He shared that they discussed development plans and the importance of synchronizing provincial and district-level programs. Earlier that day, Iskandar had just inaugurated a new administrative service center in Birem Bayeun Subdistrict, which will handle population administration, licensing, and land affairs. He then rushed to Langsa to greet the governor.
Iskandar emphasized that close communication with the provincial government is crucial for effective regional development. “Alhamdulillah, we were able to speak directly with the Governor. This kind of dialogue is vital for strengthening our development efforts in East Aceh,” he added.
News of Mualem’s trip abroad had previously sparked speculation. However, the Aceh provincial government clarified that it was a routine medical check-up. Head of the Governor’s Secretariat Bureau, Akkar Arafat, confirmed that the governor was in good condition.
“Rumors about the Governor being ill are untrue. He regularly undergoes check-ups in Penang or Singapore, and even while abroad, he stayed informed about developments in Aceh,” Akkar explained. He added that Mualem’s medical trip had received official clearance from the Ministry of Home Affairs.
Teuku Kamaruzzaman, spokesperson for the Mualem-Dek Fadh leadership, supported this, noting that Singapore was chosen because the hospital there holds a complete record of the governor’s medical history. “We ask for the public’s prayers so that nothing serious is found in the examination,” he said.
After the lunch in Langsa, Mualem continued his journey to Lhokseumawe. As the Chairman of the Aceh Transitional Committee (KPA), he is expected to resume his duties in Banda Aceh shortly.
“God willing, Mualem will return to his office and continue his leadership for the people of Aceh. We pray for his continued health and strength in carrying out his responsibilities,” Iskandar Al-Farlaky concluded.[]
