Hambalang, Sinking In SBY's Era, Rising In Moeldoko's Era

The press conference of the Democrat Party Extraordinary Congress version at the Wisma Atlet Hambalang project site, Citeureup, Bogor Regency, West Java, Thursday, March 25. (M Fikri Setiawan/Antara)

JAKARTA - The founders and seniors of the Democratic Party seem serious about 'changing clothes' and breaking away from the shadow of Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY).

It was not enough to hold the Sibolangit Extraordinary Congress (KLB) to elect a new chairman and overthrow Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono (AHY), now a big event has returned to 'bathe'.

The KLB version of the Democrat Party board held a press conference at the Hambalang Sports Center, Bogor, West Java, Thursday, March 25.

Not without reason, the holding of a media meeting in the most historical place for the Democratic Party is claimed to be the turning point for the revival of the party bearing the mercy star logo under the leadership of Moeldoko.

As we know, in the SBY era the name Hambalang was already in a negative spotlight. The Rp. 2.5 trillion mega-project became the elite's feast who is now a prisoner of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK).

The chairman of the Honorary Board of the Democratic Party, Max Sopacua, stressed that Hambalang would be the starting point for the new management to run under chairman Moeldoko.

At that time, Hambalang was the beginning of a setback for Democrats to contest the election because of a corruption case.

"We have not forgotten the history that Hambalang was also the part that made the Democrat Party go down, its electability was destroyed. Even if there are those who enjoy it without being punished now, so that some enjoy it but have gone through the legal process," said Max in Hambalang, Thursday, March 25.

However, said Max, the Democrat Party in Moeldoko's hands will restore Hambalang's image and at the same time reverse the situation that starting from this place is where the party will be victorious again.

"Democrats led by Moeldoko as the General Chairperson to move forward, God willing, we will be victorious in 2024," said Max.

A senior politician who is also the founder of the Democrat Party, Hencky Luntung, said that Hambalang would remind him of the memory project of the era of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY).

"So that the eyes are open, as a memorable memory for the Indonesian people," said Hencky.

Meanwhile, the initiator of Extraordinary Congress (KLB) Darmizal hopes that Hambalang will become the door for a better Democrat Party under the leadership of Moeldoko.

"Hopefully Hambalang will be the next page in completing the dismantling of the sad story of the past," Darmizal said.

Will Moeldoko change Hambalang's image then?

The spokesman for Moeldoko's Democrat Party, Muhammad Rahmad, said that President Joko Widodo would continue the construction of the Hambalang Sports Center in Bogor, which was stalled in the era of Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY).

"Several days ago, President Joko Widodo has planned to continue the construction of Hambalang," said Rahmad during a press conference in Hambalang, Bogor. West Java, Thursday 25 March.

According to him, the General Chair of the Democratic Party, Moeldoko, has communicated about the plan to continue the mega-project worth IDR 2.5 trillion.

"So the Democrat Party led by Mr. Moeldoko encouraged the president to continue the Hambalang project. In order to support the Hambalang project to be continued. So that the Hambalang temples would not occur," said Rahmad.

Previously, President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) was considering resuming the mega project of the National Training Center and Sports School in Bukit Hambalang, West Java Regency which had been dormant for years or was neglected.

The news that the government will revive Hambalang has indeed been detected for a long time. Jokowi promised to continue the legacy project from the era of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) since 2016, but until now it has not been realized.

At that time, Jokowi asked the Minister of Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR) to examine the possibility of continuing the project.

Some time ago, the Minister of Youth and Sports (Menpora) Zainudin Amali said that Hambalang would be transformed into a place for senior and talented athletes. The plan is already on the big agenda of the National Sports Design.

"We are considering seeing Hambalang a center for senior athletes and our athletes who are ready to compete," Zainudin was quoted as saying from YouTube's Presidential Secretariat, Tuesday, March 15.

He said that Hambalang was not the only project the government would speed up. There are still other projects that will also be made for national athletes.

Ibas' Name is Considered 'Untouchable by the Law'

Senior Democrat Politician, Max Sopacua, questioned the party who enjoyed Hambalang's corruption without being punished like other cadres. He mentioned the name of SBY's youngest son, Edhie Baskoro Yudhoyono.

As is known, the corruption case of the sports center construction project in Hambalang, Bogor, dragged down a number of Democrat Party elites. Among them, former Minister of Youth and Sports, Andi Mallarangeng, and former Democratic Chairman, Anas Urbaningrum.

In this case, the name of Ibas Yudhoyono was also mentioned several times. However, until now, Ibas has never been summoned for questioning.

"How much did Abas get, how much did Anas get, the media did not mention. Anas is still carrying out the legal process, what we are questioning are those who are not touched by the law," said Max.

The Hambalang project itself was built in 2010, to be precise during the reign of Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY). In less than a year, the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) suspected that a number of parties had committed corrupt practices in the construction of the project with a budget of up to Rp. 2.5 trillion.

"Mega corruption has already been imprisoned, there are Nazaruddin, Angelina Sondakh who have all served their sentences. What we are questioning is, Why there are others who don't? Yes, Mr. Ibas also mentioned by how many witnesses? It hasn't (been followed up). We know those who get into jail, that's why we get back to Hambalang. We get back to Hambalang not for corruption but for moving forward defending the country." said Max.

Should Hambalang mega corruption still be investigated?