Mandalika MotoGP Hired A Rain Handler, PSI Party: Formula E Needs A Budget Handler

DKI Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan when meeting with Formula E CEO Alejandro Agag in New York (Photo: Instagram @aniesbaswedan)

JAKARTA - PSI Party Central Executive Board (DPP) spokesman Sigit Widodo talked about the use of a handler between the Mandalika MotoGP, West Nusa Tenggara (NTB), and Formula E in Ancol, North Jakarta.

If the Mandalika Circuit requires the presence of a rain handler to launch the race, Sigit said that what is needed in the implementation of Formula E in Jakarta is a budget handler.

"Both of them need a handler. If MotoGP needs a rain handler, Formula E needs a budget handler," said Sigit in his statement, Monday, March 21.

Sigit explained what Formula E budget handler he meant. Sigit said, there are parties that he considers to be forcing the inclusion of the commitment fee Formula E budget in the preparation of the regional budget (APBD), especially in the changes to the 2019 budget year and 2020 budget.

Then, the DKI Youth and Sports Service also owed Bank DKI IDR 180 billion because they had to start paying commitment fees before the budget change was approved.

“Formula E was never included in the Regional Medium Term Development Plan (RPJMD), suddenly it was included in the 2019 changes of regional budget (APBD-P). Amazingly, Governor Anies has decided to owe IDR 180 billion and pay a commitment fee of IDR 560 billion before the APBD-P is ratified. Residents of Jakarta need budget handlers to get rid of tuyuls (Indonesian ghost) that interfere with people's money," said Sigit.

In addition, budgeting oddities also occurred when the Formula E circuit was being built. Initially, the Regional-owned Enterprise (BUMD) PT Jakpro budgeted for the construction of the circuit with a contract value of IDR 50 billion to contractor PT Jaya Konstruksi. However, during the construction of the circuit, it turned out that the budget had increased to IDR 60 billion.

“Previously, the cost was only IDR 50 billion for the construction of the circuit, but it was suddenly increased to IDR 60 billion. Even though the contractor has saved costs by changing the material for the undercoat of the track from iron to bamboo," he said.