Jakarta Council Suggests Withdrawal of Formula E Commitment Fee

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Jakarta Legislative Council's (DPRD) Commission E suggested the paid commitment fee for the city to host Formula E racing to be fully withdrawn and the event in 2021 to be postponed.

The Commission E member Jhonny Simanjuntak assessed that the electric car racing event should be delayed and the organizing committee, Jakarta Propertindo or Jakpro and the city administration, should not think of having it next year.

“Now think about how the money worth tens of millions of pounds can be withdrawn. It is currently needed for the people’s social assistance program amid the Covid-19 pandemic. Our sensitivity is required in the current situation,” said Jhonny during a meeting with Jakpro and Jakarta Youth and Sports Agency today, June 16.

Read: Jakarta Reallocates Budgets for COVID-19, Formula E Included

Other Commission E member, Merry Hotma, seconded Jhonny’s statement, advising that the event be delayed given the unstable global economy due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

With those considerations, the PDIP politician doubted that tourists would visit Indonesia next year, even if the pandemic would end in 2020. While in fact, the event establishment was expected to attract global tourists.

The Jakarta provincial government has reportedly deposited £31 million or around Rp554 billion out of the total £41 million to host the Formula E in 2020 and 2021. The event which was initially slated to take place on June 6, 2020, was canceled and moved to 2021.

Read more: Jakarta E-Prix Canceled, Anies Baswedan: The Risk is Too Big

ANTARA