Jakarta's Heritage Experts Refutes Approving the Monas Formula E

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The city’s cultural heritage team of experts (TACB) denies Governor Anies Baswedan’s claim about obtaining the team's recommendation the upcoming Formula E race slated to be held at Monas, Central Jakarta. 

Member of the expert team, Danang Priatmodjo, went as far as to say that the race is not feasible to be held within the area of Monas. 

“Such a recommendation does not exist,” said Danang on Thursday, February 13. 

He recalled the governor of Jakarta summoning the expert team’s chairman Mundardjito on Friday when Anies asked for Mundardjito’s expert opinion upon using the Monas area as a make-shift Formula E street track. 

Danang recalls the TACB officially recommending the Jakarta administration to avert from using Monas as a race track. “From our views, [the race] isn’t feasible to be held at Monas as it is a state symbol,” he said.

Moreover, he claims to have recommended the Formula E race to be hosted at the city’s Gelora Bung Karno which is a sports center area unlike Monas, which sits directly opposed to the State Palace. 

“It isn’t compatible to hold a race there. It is disrespectful towards the state symbol and does not maintain the nation’s authority. Especially considering the race event does not carry the nation’s authority,” he argues. 

Earlier reports suggest that Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan claims to have obtained the approval of Jakarta’s cultural heritage team of experts (TACB) to host the Formula E race within the Medan Merdeka and Monas area. 

IMAM HAMDI