Electric Vehicles Considered A Threat To Pertamina, Gun Romli Defends BUMN: Why Don't You Love A Formula E Sponsor, It's The Same As Suicide

DKI Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan during a meet and greet Jakarta Formula E racer on Thursday, June 2. (Antara-IndRianto Eko S)

JAKARTA - PSI politician Guntur Romli or Gun Romli agrees with PT Pertamina (Persero)'s refusal to become a sponsor of Formula E Jakarta. According to Gun, electric vehicles, which are the main object of the race, are a threat to Pertamina.

"As long as Pertamina doesn't have a related product, then electric vehicles are a 'threat' for Pertamina, why don't you provide a sponsor?" said Gun Romli on his Twitter account, @GunRomli, Tuesday 14 June.

Pertamina's position was conveyed by the President Director of PT Pertamina, Nicke Widyawati. Nicke said Pertamina's products were not compatible with the Formula E racing event.

"What branding do we want? The car does not use lubricants and fuel. Sponsors are branding. Branding is a product," Nicke said in a Media Gathering at Graha Pertamina Jakarta, Wednesday, June 8, evening.

Gun Romli also said that the basis that Pertamina was using by carefully considering sponsorship was correct. If the BUMN that manages oil and gas in Indonesia sponsors Formula E Jakarta which was held on June 4, Gun Romli questions what benefits Pertamina will get.

"It's true that Pertamina's CEO is considering Pertamina, because Pertamina sells fuel, electric vehicles don't use fuel, is it a threat to those who sell fuel, why don't you want to sponsor? It's the same as committing suicide," said Gun Romli.

According to Gun Romli, the organizers of electric car racing events in the country should look for sponsors that are relevant to the event being run. One of the appropriate ones is PT PLN (Persero), a state-owned company engaged in electricity.

"The suitable sponsor of Formula E is PLN, it's electricity," he added.

However, Gun Romli noted that the submission of sponsorship to potential parties cannot be sudden. There must be a proper gap between the organization of the event and the proposal submitted to the sponsor.

"Why not? Did you send a proposal like an invitation to the RT social gathering, 2 days before the D day? After all, PLN also doesn't need to be a sponsor for low caste events, there are no target customers, instead they are asked for free electric shocks," he said.