Jokowi Attends Formula E Race, PDIP: If The President Is Not Present, Criticism Is Complete

Member of the PDIP Faction of the DKI Jakarta DPRD Gilbert Simanjuntak/PHOTO: Diah Ayu-VOI

JAKARTA - Member of the PDIP faction of the DKI Jakarta DPRD, Gilbert Simanjuntak, assessed that the presence of President Joko Widodo to witness the Formula E race on Saturday, June 4 last week, was a natural thing as the President's activity.

Gilbert said that so far Jokowi has often been criticized by groups that are against him. If Jokowi is not present in this electric car racing event, Gilbert suspects the group will attack Jokowi even more.

"That is very normative and natural. It would be unnatural for the President not to come because he has been thoroughly criticized by groups who don't like him," Gilbert said when met at the DKI DPRD building, Monday, June 6.

Likewise, according to Gilbert, the presence of the Chairperson of the Indonesian House of Representatives, Puan Maharani. Although Puan is a PDIP politician, she came to watch the Formula E race as a representative of the legislature.

"The presence of (Mrs) as a legislature is reasonable, isn't it? Yes, it is very reasonable. So, don't interpret it as if this or that," said Gilbert.

Gilbert also said that the implementation of Formula E could not be considered a success. This is because he views that the costs incurred from the APBD for the payment of the commitment fee are still greater than the benefits.

"How can you see this is successful if you only look at it in terms of numbers? Are you willing to use APBD money for this? APBD is people's money too," he said.

For information, Formula E Jakarta was held on Saturday, June 4 at the Jakarta International E-Prix Circiut (JIEC), Ancol, North Jakarta. The electric car racing event was also attended by President Joko Widodo, state officials, and other political figures.

DKI Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan also uploaded a number of photos with President Joko Widodo and several other officials and political figures who attended the Formula E racing event last weekend.

Anies said that Formula E was not only a celebration for Jakarta, but also for Indonesia, and even the world. "The excitement that unites, not distances. Sport has always been able to unite across borders," said Anies in the aniesbaswedan Instagram account.

The former Minister of Education and Culture hopes that this racing event, which previously reaped the pros and cons, can provide special memories for all those who attend watching the circuit.

"Thank you for being part of the history of the first Formula-E in Indonesia. Hopefully it will provide beautiful and memorable memories for all of them," he added.

Viewed on Anies' Instagram account, a number of state dignitaries who were present directly to watch the Formula E race included President Joko Widodo, MPR Chair Bambang Soesatyo, DPR Speaker Puan Maharani, National Police Chief General Listyo Sigit, Tourism and Creative Economy Minister Sandiaga Uno, Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin , as well as the Minister of Youth and Sports Zainudin Amali.

There were also a number of political figures in attendance, such as PKB General Chair (Ketum) Abdul Muhaimin Iskandar or Cak Imin, Perindo Chairman Harry Tanoe, Democrat Chairman Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono, Nasdem Politicians and Chairman of the Formula E Executive Committee Ahmad Sahroni, to PKS DPP Chairperson Mardani Ali Sera. .

In addition, during VOI's monitoring at the Formula E circuit location on Saturday, June 4, Indonesia's Minister of Agrarian Affairs and Spatial Planning Sofyan Djalil, Minister of Manpower Ida Fauziyah, and PAN politician Hatta Rajasa were also present.