DPRD Urges Anies To Withdraw Formula E Budget For Handling COVID-19

Racing Formula E (Photo: Instagram @fiaformulae)

JAKARTA - The DKI DPRD Budget Agency (Banggar) has asked DKI Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan to withdraw the budget for implementing Formula E.The DPRD wants the budget to be diverted for handling COVID-19.

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

The DPRD considers that the budget can be used for handling the COVID-19 budget. Although DKI has disbursed a budget of IDR 5.032 trillion specifically for handling COVID-19, this is considered insufficient to fulfill the social safety net program for DKI residents whose economy is affected by the corona virus.

"We ask that a commitment fee of Rp560 billion be returned as soon as possible to accelerate the handling of the corona virus," said DKI Banggar DPRD member Yudha Permana when confirmed, Wednesday, May 20.

Meanwhile, the Chairman of Commission E (Community Welfare Sector) DPRD DKI Budget Wicitra Sastroamidjojo thinks the budget should be refunded. Because, according to him, organizing an electric-powered car racing event which is planned to be held on June 6 will not be possible.

Therefore, Anggara demanded that the DKI Provincial Government immediately submit a Force Majeure clause to the Formula E Federation so that the entire commitment fee can be returned.

"We must have control as the owner of the budget because that money is people's money. It must be spent according to priority to buy basic necessities," said Anggara.

In addition, Chairman of Commission A (Government Affairs) Mujiyono also urged Anies to re-request the 2020 and 2021 Formula E commitment fees that had been paid to the federation.

The reason is, Mujiyono is not sure Formula E can be held in the next two years even though the COVID-19 pandemic has ended. This is because there are other impacts that the government needs to fix, namely the sluggish economic condition of the people.

"Formula E has a total of Rp1.6 trillion in several places. Cook, I still want to be sure that Formula E will be held. The economic condition is still unstable. Instead of buying tickets to watch Formula E, residents are better off buying rice," said Mujiyono.

Answer by the DKI Provincial Government

Head of the DKI Jakarta Youth and Sports Agency (Kadispora), Achmad Firdaus, confirmed that he had paid a 2021 commitment fee of IDR207 billion a few months ago, and a 2020 commitment fee of IDR 360 billion in 2019.

However, regarding the possibility of the money being withdrawn, Firdaus did not give a definite answer. He threw matters at the DKI BUMD PT Jakarta Propertindo as the organizer.

"This is still in the process of being discussed. However, for the MoU between Jakpro as the organizer and Formula E. It depends (how is the content) of the agreement between Jakpro and them. The technicalities (ask) to Jakpro only," said Firdaus.

Separately, the Director of Communication and Sustainability Formula E Jakarta Felicia Idama said that it is not Jakpro's authority to discuss budgeting issues. According to him, Jakpro only takes care of technical operations.

"So far there has been no further discussion. That is not the authority of OC (Jakpro) as the organizer, the level is at the Kadispora. Back again, we do not know whether it is possible or not (withdrawing the commitment fee) is possible, because our contract is 5 years, "explained Felicia.