IPO: Menpora Force Policy, Prabowo And Rosan Can Get The Getah!

JAKARTA Early 2025 became a new chapter full of controversy for the Indonesian sports world. The Ministry of Youth and Sports (KEMENPORA), which is now led by Dito Ariotedjo, issued a policy in the form of a Regulation of the Minister of Youth and Sports (Permenpora) Number 14 of 2024 concerning the Standard Management of Achievement Sports Scope Sports Organizations. This policy sparked sharp criticism, especially from the Indonesian Sports Care group (IPO).

In the regulation, it is stipulated that the term of office of the management of the achievement sports organization is limited to only two terms, with each period of four years. This immediately highlighted the position of Chairman of the Executive Board of the Indonesian Pencak Silat Association (PB IPSI), Prabowo Subianto, and General Chairperson of the Indonesian Weightlifting Association (PP PABSI), Rosan P. Roeslani.

Prabowo Subianto has led PB IPSI since 2003 and has now passed two terms of leadership according to the new rules. Meanwhile, Rosan P. Roeslani entered his third term as General Chair of PP PABSI, after taking the lead since 2015. Based on Article 18 of Permenpora Number 14 of 2024, both of them are considered to have violated the provisions of their term of office.

However, the IPO considers this policy unfair and contrary to the needs of the world of achievement sports. Being a sports leader is part of service, and if a leader is proven successful in improving achievement, there is nothing wrong if he is retained," an IPO spokesperson said in a statement.

Prabowo is considered to have played a major role in promoting pencak silat, the original Indonesian sport, to be able to enter the Olympics. On the other hand, Rosan successfully led PP PABSI by defending the Olympic medal tradition, including scoring the history of Indonesia's first gold medal in weightlifting through Rizky Juniansyah.

The IPO considers this Permenpora to be contrary to the Olympic Charter or Olympic Charter, which regulates the basic principles of governance of international sports organizations. The IPO also said that KEMENPORA under Dito Ariotedjo failed to understand the governance of national sports organizations.

Dito enforced policies that were irrelevant and actually weakened the spirit of achievement sports. This Permenpora clearly violates the Olympic Charter," said the IPO representative.

Criticism was also directed at the Indonesian National Sports Committee (KONI) and the Indonesian Olympic Committee (KOI) which were considered not to be firm on this policy. KONI and KOI look passive and do not fight for the interests of the athletes and sports they represent," added the IPO.

To dissect this problem, the IPO supports the holding of a seminar by the Indonesian Advocates Association, which took place at the Central Park Ballroom Hotel, Jakarta, on January 16, 2025. This seminar raises the theme Distinguishing the Direction of Permenpora Number 14 of 2024: Legal Review, Implementation, and Future of National Sports Policy.

In its final statement, the IPO suggested that KEMENPORA, KONI, and KOI be abolished and replaced by more responsible institutions. "It's time for Indonesia to have an institution that really fights for the rights of athletes and the development of national sports, not just a tool for bureaucracy," he concluded.

This controversy is expected to continue and trigger debate in the world of national sports. Will this Permenpora Number 14 of 2024 survive, or will it be revised to maintain the stability and achievements of Indonesian sports?