Questioning The Commitment Fee Budget For Formula E, PSI: Does DKI Not Intend To Return It?

ILLUSTRATION / Formula E Racing (Photo: Instagram @fiaformulae)

JAKARTA - The PSI DPRD DKI Jakarta faction again questioned the return of the budget for the payment of the Formula E commitment fee of Rp.560 billion, which until now has no certainty when it will be held.

This was conveyed by a member of the PSI faction Anggara Wicitra Sastroamidjojo when reading out the faction's view of the changes in the Jakarta Regional Budget for the 2020 budget year.

Anggara questioned how the payment process for the Formula E commitment fee amounting to Rp560 billion and the steps to return the down payment for the electric car race.

"Does the DKI Jakarta Provincial Government not intend to return it? Please tell the people frankly and give a clear explanation," said Anggara at the DKI DPRD building, Thursday, November 5.

However, if there has been a process of refunding the Formula E commitment fee, Anggara asks Anies to provide an explanation of the chronology along with physical evidence.

Physical evidence such as correspondence, meeting notes, negotiation results, contract revisions, or other documents that discuss refunds.

"The evidence of the refund process is an important part of the transparency of the use of public money," said Anggara.

"We do not get tired of reminding us that the current budget is in deficit, therefore it is inappropriate for the government to waste money on car racing events," he continued.

Previously reported, the DKI Jakarta DPRD Budget Agency once questioned the fate of the Formula E commitment fee when DKI made changes to the APBD to prioritize handling the COVID-19 pandemic last June.

The commitment fee for the racing event, which was originally held on June 6, is paid annually for five years, with two terms per year.

DKI has deposited a commitment fee for 2020 to the Federation Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) Formula E amounting to IDR 360 billion paid in 2019. Then, the commitment fee in 2021 is around IDR 200 billion (amounting to 11 million pounds).

Like it or not, the DKI Provincial Government finally complied and attempted to cancel the implementation of Formula E. BUMD organizers, namely PT Jakpro said that they would negotiate with Formula E Operations to withdraw the £ 31 million commitment fee. Unfortunately, until now there is no clarity regarding the refund.