A stroke ended the political career of Muhamad Ma'ruf as Home Affairs Minister. He was rushed to the Harapan Kita Cardiac Hospital on March 30, 2007 and not long after he was flown to Singapore. Upon his return, he underwent a twice-weekly therapy session at the Ciater hot springs at Subang, West Java. In August of that same year, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono appointed Mardiyanto to replace Muhammad Ma'ruf.

In the two years he headed the H