Gak-blakan Sindir Sandi Soal WSBK Rugi, Stafsus Erick Thohir: Hanya Bantu Satu

Special Staff to the Minister of State-Owned Enterprises (BUMN) Arya Sinulingga. (Mery Handayani/VOI)

JAKARTA - Special Staff III of the Minister of SOEs, Arya Sinulingga, insinuated the Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy (Menparekraf) Sandiaga Uno regarding the implementation of the World Superbike (WSBK) at the Mandalika Circuit which lost Rp100 billion.

Arya revealed that the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy only helped finance the WSBK event once out of a total of three times. The event is financed in 2022.

As is known, the WSBK event was first held in 2021 at Sirkit Mandalika. In 2022, the WSBK event will be held again and the last event will be held from March 3 to 5, this year.

Arya admitted that he was grateful for the assistance of the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy in WSBK activities, although the three implementation only helped pay the liquensing fee or WSBK license fee once.

"That was carried out from three times WSBK, the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy helped him once. It's okay, thank you for being helped. That's what the license fee helps," Arya said at the BUMN Ngopi event at the Ministry of SOEs, Jakarta, written Friday, June 23.

Furthermore, Arya explained that generally in almost all countries, international license fees for international events are paid by the government. Because the country is the host or hosting country. However, the government only funds once, the rest is financed by state-owned companies.

For example, said Arya, Formula E is held in Jakarta. Where the license fee is funded by the DKI Jakarta Provincial Government (Pemprov). It is known, the DKI Jakarta Provincial Government pays a license fee of Rp560 billion for the implementation for three years, from 2022 to 2024.

"Formula E is paid for by the DKI Jakarta APBD. But for WSBK, that's three times, once assisted by the government. It (the license fee) is a bit expensive. So thank you to Mr. Sandi, but don't be surprised if the WSBK is a bit less profitable, out of three assisted by one," he said.

According to Arya, actually SOEs hope to get support for licensing fees from the government continuously during the three years of WSBK implementation. However, the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy cannot fulfill this request.

"We hope to continue to be helped. Actually, we asked for the last ( license fee) yesterday (WSBK 2023), but Mr. Sandi didn't give it. It's okay, because his name also asked for help, he gave it, he didn't give it,'said Arya.

"So Mr. Sandi, don't be surprised, 'how can you (lose), we will help'. Oh yes (do you help), only once from three times WSBK," he continued.

Even so, Arya assessed that the losses obtained by the Mandalika Circuit from the WSBK implementation were normal. This is because the first WSBK will be held in 2021, when the spread of COVID-19 is still high.

Furthermore, Arya said the event was also held with the aim of promoting Indonesian tourism which was affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

At that time, everyone saw how good Indonesia turned out to be and ready for tourism, and our driver was WBSK, the first at that time. So if there is a loss, well, it's natural. Because everywhere the name of the first promotion is a loss," said Arya.

Previously, Menparekraf Sandiaga Uno was surprised that the WSBK and MotoGP events had lost money. Where the loss reached Rp. 100 billion. According to Sandiaga, the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy participated in funding the holding of the two motorcycle racing events.

Therefore, the man who is familiarly called Sandi assessed that the problem needed to be studied further thoroughly to find out the cause of the loss.