Anies Is Still Trying To Maintain Formula E, PSI's Response: Forget About His Ambitions

DKI Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan (Photo: Diah Ayu Wardani/VOI)

JAKARTA - DKI Governor Anies Baswedan still maintains his desire to organize Formula E, even though Jakarta is not included in the calendar for 2022.

This effort was carried out by re-negotiating with Formula E Operation (FEO), the manager of Formula E in New York, United States.

In response to this, a Member of the PSI faction of the DKI Regional House of Representatives, Anggara Wicitra Sastroamidjojo, asked Anies to forget his ambition to make DKI the host of the electric car racing event.

Moreover, Jakarta has passed two series of Formula E events in 2020 and 2021 due to delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Governor Anies, don't keep fooling the people. It's been 3 years and it's been delayed. It's better to forget about the ambition to organize Formula E", Anggara said when confirmed on Thursday, August 5.

Anggara asked Anies to be realistic about the fact that Jakarta was not included in the schedule for the Formula E event, even though the International Automotive Federation (FIA) Formula E gave a schedule slot with a TBD statement or to be determined on June 4, 2022.

"Jakarta should still be included with tentative terms and conditions. However, the absence of the name Jakarta on the temporary schedule shows that Jakarta is not taken into account in the Formula E arena", he said.

Moreover, the budget needed to plan Formula E, according to Anggara, can be used as an addition to handling the pandemic. It is known, DKI has poured a budget of almost IDR 1 trillion for commitment fees and bank guarantees.

"Payments that use people's money worth almost IDR 1 trillion also do not guarantee that Formula E will take place, how long will this be postponed? Remember that in 2022, Anies' governorship will end", said Anggara.

"Don't say Jakarta doesn't have funds for the COVID-19 pandemic if you don't want to fight for the refund of IDR 1 trillion in Formula E", he continued.

Previously, Anies admitted that he had renegotiated with Formula E Operation (FEO) so that Jakarta could remain the organizer of Formula E. This negotiation was carried out by BUMD PT Jakarta Propertindo, as the organizer of Formula E, on Anies' orders.

"PT Jakarta Propertindo has renegotiated with the FEO regarding the confirmation and clarity of the status of the sustainability of the cooperation, the time of implementation, and the status of the funding that has been paid", Anies said in an explanatory document regarding the changes to the 2017-2022 Regional Medium-Term Development Plan.

However, after the renegotiations, it turns out that currently, FEO has not issued any certainty regarding whether Jakarta will continue to host Formula E or not due to waiting for the development of the pandemic.

"The payment of the commitment fee for the 2022 event and beyond will be rescheduled after the certainty of the implementation of Formula E taking into account the end of the COVID-19 pandemic", he explained.