TRENGGALEK – The Trenggalek Acting Regent Extension has been requested by local officials to keep the regional administration running while Regent Mochamad Nur Arifin completes his trip to Saudi Arabia.

The Trenggalek Regency government sent a formal request to the Ministry of Home Affairs on Thursday, March 5. Officials want to extend the acting regent position for three days. The move aims to prevent any leadership gap in the regional government.

Teguh Sri Mulyanto, head of the Government Affairs Division at the Trenggalek Secretariat, said officials coordinated with provincial authorities before sending the request.

“We have coordinated with the provincial government and the Ministry of Home Affairs. Yesterday we sent the official request,” Teguh said.

He stressed that local governments must avoid administrative vacancies. Regional services must continue without interruption.

Travel uncertainty in the Middle East also influenced the decision. Officials feared possible delays in the regent’s return flight. According to Teguh, Mochamad Nur Arifin departed from Medina for Indonesia on the evening of March 6.

“Because of the situation in the Middle East, we first delivered the proposal verbally before sending a formal letter,” he said.

During the regent’s absence, Deputy Regent Syah Muhammad Natanegara has handled daily government duties. Earlier, Regional Secretary Edy Soepriyanto confirmed that the regent took leave from February 21 to March 4, 2026. He traveled to Saudi Arabia to perform the umrah pilgrimage.

“When a regional leader leaves for more than seven days, the government must appoint an official to handle daily duties,” Edy said.

Despite the regent’s absence, government programs and public services in Trenggalek have continued normally. Local officials also remain in contact with the central government regarding the leave extension.