A Three-Stage Drama At The Location Of The Formula E Circuit

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

JAKARTA - DKI Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan has established a Formula E racing circuit. Its location is in the Medan Merdeka area, namely the National Monument area and Jalan Medan Merdeka Selatan.

However, the process of determining the location starting from the planning stage is like a drama with fluctuating conflicts. Initially, PT Jakarta Propertindo (JakPro), as the organizer's BUMD, had determined the location of Formula E at Monas. This was discussed in the budget submission at the DPRD in October 2019.

President Director of PT JakPro Dwi Wahyu Daryoto said that his party would layer the tracks in the Monas area using asphalt as a circuit. The reason is, the Monas area is currently using paving blocks.

"Yes (layer), using asphalt. That's a technique from the International Automotive Federation (FIA) Formula E," Dwi said on October 31, 2019.

It is planned that the 2.6 kilometer circuit will start from Jalan Medan Merdeka Selatan towards Gambir, then turn onto Jalan Silang Merdeka Tenggara and enter the Monas area. Inside Monas, the circuit continues around Jalan Titian Indah inside Monas, towards Jalan Merdeka Barat Daya, and ends at Jalan Medan Merdeka Selatan again.

Initial design of the route for the Formula E Circuit in Jakarta (doc. JakPro)

The Steering Committee refused at Monas

As time went on, it turned out that the Medan Merdeka Area Steering Committee, chaired by the Minister of State Secretary (Mensesneg) Pratikno, did not approve that Monas was used as the location for the Formula E racing event.

This was conveyed by the Secretary of the State Secretary Setya Utama, after the meeting of the Steering Committee for the Medan Merdeka Area together with the Governor of DKI Jakarta Anies Baswedan at the Ministry of State Secretariat Office, Wednesday, February 5.

"The Steering Committee does not approve if it is carried out in the Monas area. There are many considerations. There is a cultural heritage there, then there is asphalting," said Setya.

However, Kemensetneg still supports the implementation of Formula E. "It is permitted, but outside the Monas area," he said.

He immediately contacted the Formula E federation and international motorcycle racing organizations to provide the news. Given the deadline for the implementation of only four months, the Formula E International Automotive Federation (FIA) team immediately flew to Jakarta to find an alternative route.

"This afternoon, the team is already on the way to Jakarta to determine a new location. We cannot determine the route without an expert. At half past 6 in the afternoon they land, then they will immediately see several places together with the team from the Highways Agency, PT JakPro, and its committee executives, "he added.

The results of the investigation by the FIA federation show that there are several route options that can replace Monas. First, on Jalan Sudirman Thamrin, then the Gelora Bung Karno (PPK) area, and the Kemayoran area. In fact, JakPro has asked the GBK Regional Management Center (PPK) to create a circuit scheme.

The central government changed its mind

The Medan Merdeka Area Steering Commission, chaired by the Minister of State Secretary (Mensesneg), finally approved the implementation of Formula E in the National Monument (Monas) area.

This agreement was concluded on Friday, February 7. In fact, on Wednesday, February 5, the State Secretary did not approve of DKI Jakarta Governor Anies to hold the electric car racing event.

"Yes, after the meeting on the 5th, in the area not and only invited to Jalan Medan Merdeka Selatan were welcome. But then Komrah reviewed it," said Secretary of the Ministry of State Secretariat Setya Utama on Sunday, February 9.

"In the official reply letter on the 7th approved the implementation in the Medan Merdeka area, but with due observance of several things, mainly it must be carried out in accordance with statutory regulations," he continued.

The location of Monas which was again approved made DKI Governor Anies Baswedan upset. He had to reconsider whether he would continue to use an alternative route or return to Monas.

Until Tuesday, February 11, Anies decided to return to using the Medan Merdeka area, including the National Monument (Monas) in it, as a Formula E racing circuit.

"We ask for the help of all parties to socialize that there will be an E Formula event in the Medan Merdeka area," said DKI Regional Secretary Saefullah.

new route in the attachment letter to the Steering Committee (Special doc)

The re-election of the Monas area as the Formula E route was agreed upon at a meeting of the Steering Committee for the Medan Merdeka Area on Monday, February 10 afternoon. Moreover, Minister of State Secretary Pratikno as Chairman of the Steering Committee has given the green light to the DKI Provincial Government to make Monas a route for the electric-powered car racing event.

Anies has written to the State Secretary to confirm the implementation of Formula E at Monas and attached an overview of the shape of the circuit. This emission-free car race route is slightly different from the route decided by JakPro during the budget submission discussion a few months ago.

The new route starts from Jalan Medan Merdeka Selatan to the Horse Statue area, enters the Southwest gate of Monas, enters the Monas area, turns left to the west side, turns back south, exits right through the Southeast exit of Monas towards Gambir, then crosses in front of the Embassy. AS on Jalan Medan Merdeka Selatan. The Formula E circuit track has 11 bends with a length of 2.6 km.

For information, Formula E is the second most popular racing tournament after Formula 1. The difference with Formula 1, Formula E already uses an electric-powered engine so it is emission-free. Later this speeding action will be held on a highway that has been converted into a temporary circuit.

This racing event will be held on June 6, 2020. It is planned that this event will be held for 5 consecutive years.

In order to be able to hold Formula E, the DKI Provincial Government has proposed the DKI budget in the APBD to reach around Rp1.6 trillion. In detail, there is a budget of IDR 360 billion for the commitment fee to the Formula E federation.

In addition, a budget of Rp. 934 billion was disbursed for organizing funds which will be managed by the Jakarta Education and Sports Agency (Dispora). Separately, DKI BUMD, namely PT Jakarta Propertindo (JakPro), also requires a budget of IDR 305.2 billion for the cost of implementing it.