Deputy Governor Of DKI Denies Formula E Canceled Monas Due To Central Permit Affairs For Political Reasons

Jakarta Deputy Governor Ahmad Riza Patria/DOK VOI- Rizky Adytia

JAKARTA - Deputy Governor of DKI Jakarta Ahmad Riza Patria denies any political elements related to the cancellation of Formula E at the National Monument (Monas), Central Jakarta.

"Nothing, nothing political, Formula-E is a sport and this is how we support Jakarta Langit Biru without pollution," Riza said at the Jakarta City Hall, quoted by Antara, Friday, October 8.

As for alternative locations for the holding of Formula E, Riza mentioned five locations prepared by PT Jakarta Propertindo

(Jakpro) to the Department of Youth and Sports (Dispora) for the electric car race which is planned to be held in 2022.

However, Riza did not want to go into details, even though two of them had been thrown out, namely in Senayan and the reclaimed island (Pantai Kita Maju Bersama).

"We will wait, yes, it is being coordinated from the Formula E party that will come later, to ensure which is the best of the alternative options available," said Riza.

Previously, political observer Ujang Komarudin assessed that there were political nuances in the tug-of-war decision of the Ministry of State Secretariat to prohibit the implementation of Formula E at Monas, which was proposed by DKI Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan.

"There is a strong political dimension, initially the governor proposed but it was forbidden, but after that it was allowed," said Ujang.

Continued Monas Revitalization

Deputy Governor of DKI Jakarta, Ahmad Riza Patria, emphasized that the DKI Provincial Government will still complete the revitalization of Monas even though Formula E will not be held in the area.

Some time ago, it was thought that the revitalization of Monas was carried out to support the implementation of Formula E. However, Riza said that the revitalization of Monas was a separate activity from the Formula E event.

"We will still revitalize the Monas, whether there is Formula E or not. The DKI Provincial Government continues to beautify and revitalize Monas," said Riza at DKI City Hall, Central Jakarta, Thursday, October 7.

Riza explained the reason why the DKI Provincial Government did not hold Formula E at Monas. Apparently, the central government did not allow an electric car racing event at Monas because it was in the ring 1 area.

"Monas is ring 1. From the central government it is not possible (Formula E to be held) there," he said.

Previously, Managing Director of Jakarta EPIX PT Jakarta Propertindo (Jakpro), Gunung Kartiko said that the DKI Provincial Government will not use the National Monument (Monas) area as a Formula E circuit next year due to licensing issues.

"Obviously the venue is not at Monas. That's the clue, because Monas seems a bit heavy in terms of licensing. So we are looking for an icon location that shows Jakarta," said Gunung.

Moreover, said Gunung, if you want to make a Monas, it is feared that the circuit made will not be optimal because it uses non-permanent asphalt.

"If Monas used to know, it was on the asphalt kletek-kletek," said Gunung.