Jordi Amat And Sandy Walsh Official Naturalization, Puan Hopes Indonesian National Team Achievements Can Come Together

Photo via PSSI Twitter

JAKARTA - The DPR has ratified the naturalization of two football players who will strengthen the Indonesian national team, Jordi Amat Maas and Sandy Henny Walsh. The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Puan Maharani, hopes that the provision of Indonesian citizenship to the two footballers will improve the achievements of the Indonesian national team.

"Congratulations to Jordi Amat Maas and Sandy Henny Walsh's brother who have received naturalization approval. The DPR hopes that this citizenship award can strengthen the Indonesian national team so that the Garuda team will excel more," said Puan, Wednesday, September 21.

The approval of the naturalization of Jordi and Sandy was taken at the DPR Plenary Meeting today. Previously, the two footballers had undergone a number of procedures, including the approval stage by Commission III of the DPR.

Jordi and Sandy had attended a working meeting between Commission III of the DPR and the Ministry of Law and Human Rights (Kemenkum HAM), the Ministry of Youth and Sports (Kemenpora), and PSSI. Present virtually wearing batik, Jordi and Sandy conveyed greetings and recited the Pancasila in Indonesian.

According to Puan, the granting of citizenship through this mechanism is carried out in accordance with the provisions of Article 20 of Law Number 12 of 2006 concerning Citizenship of the Republic of Indonesia.

The granting of citizenship to Jordi and Sandy is based on the interests of a person who is extraordinary so that the state can give him citizenship, namely achievements in the field of sports.

"We have given naturalization to athletes several times with quite satisfactory results," said Puan.

Jordi is known to have Indonesian descent from a grandmother who was born in Makassar. Meanwhile, Sandy has Indonesian descendants from the mother, namely his grandfather who was born in Surabaya and his grandmother in Purworejo.

Although currently both of them are playing for clubs abroad, Jordi and Sandy have participated in training with the Indonesian national team. The government proposes naturalization by ensuring that the two are ready to compete with the Garuda Team to defend Indonesia in the world football competition.

Jordi and Sandy are prepared to strengthen the Indonesian national team in the 2023 Asian Cup, and are targeted to go to the field with Team Garuda in the FIFA Match Day match against Curacao on September 24 and 27. Puan prays for the success of the Indonesian national team.

Naturalization in which the process through the approval of the DPR is the right step to support national sports achievements. We hope that success in the field of sports can further make Indonesia proud in the international arena," said Puan in a written statement.

In addition to naturalization, Puan asked the Government to continue to improve sports coaching so that athletes can be able to continue to make achievements at the world level.

"We hope that the Central Government can encourage local governments to pay more attention to the world of sports by allocating a proportional budget," said Puan.

The former Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture mentioned Law 11 of 2022 concerning Sports which was just ratified by the DPR last February. The sports law, said Puan, regulates sports coaching from the time of coaching athletes who need financing, not a few.

The sports law regulates the grand design of national sports (DBON), including at the regional level. So the local government must have a role in governance and sports coaching which will have an impact on the quality and achievements of national sports," he explained.

The issue of DBON is also regulated in Presidential Regulation of the Republic of Indonesia (Perpres) Number 86 of 2021. The regulation contains the direction of national sports coaching and development policies that are carried out effectively, efficiently, superior, measurable, systematic, accountable, and sustainable in the scope of sports education, recreational sports, sports achievements, and the sports industry.

DBON needs to be circulated in every sport. Not only has the potential to win at the international level, but also sports coaching for the younger generation as early as possible as an effort to attract superior seeds," said Puan.

"Because it aims long-term to produce future generations who have excellent physical and mental health so that they are able to build a brilliant Indonesia," he said.