TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Jakarta Governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama (Ahok) has encouraged the Asian Games 2018 event to be held in Palembang, South Sumatera. It is expected that the sport event would improve the city`s economic state.
"In all over the world, if there will be great event, it usually finds region which has not been developed yet thus it increases the economic growth. So actually we want to encourage all in Palembang, thus it will be complete," said Basuki at City Hall, Monday (12/28).
But the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) side assessed Infrastructures in Palembang are not ready yet. So it still includes Jakarta as the implementor city.
"But unfortunately when OCA came, they said that Palembang is not ready. So they want Jakarta," he stated.
However, Jakarta also still involves South Tangerang, West Java, and Banten for the implementation.
"Determining Palembang ready is not me, but OCA. I'm personnally nice to Mr. Alex (South Sumatera Governor). I want it all to be in Palembang, since Jakarta is already huge," he expressed.
ANTARA