President Jokowi Asks Minister of Youth and Sports to Prepare Alternative for Hambalang Project

Minister of Youth and Sports Imam Nahrawi, accompanied by Cabinet Secretary, Minister of Public Works and Public Housing, and the Head of Supreme Audit Agency (BPK), delivers a press release on Wednesday (30/3)

Responding to technical and financial auditing on the National Sports Development, Education and Training Center (P3SON) project, in Hambalang, Sentul, Bogor, West Java, President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo ordered Minister of Youth and Sports Imam Nahrawi to prepare an alternative solution for the project.

“The President has instructed me to prepare an alternative solution for the utilization of Hambalang if the study is finished, whether to continue the project or not,” Imam said to the reporters after a limited meeting, at the Presidential Office, Jakarta, on Wednesday (30/3) afternoon.

According to the Minister, Hambalang project is an important lesson for the Government, particularly for the Ministry of Youth and Sports, that it needs accuracy and takes much time to make a plan; therefore, it will not repeat the mistakes that occurred in the past.

“It is really important. All studies will become crucial points for Ministry of Youth and Sports to carry out the project with requirements we prefer,” Imam explained while mentioning that the Government does not only need sports school but also training and education center.

Meanwhile, the Head of Supreme Audit Agency (BPK) Harry Azhar Azis expressed his support to the President’s plan to conduct auditing before making a decision in the continuation of Hambalang project.

Harry mentioned that based on the investigation of BPK in 2012, there were more than Rp 243 billion of the State Budget to fund the project. Meanwhile, in 2013, the Government spent Rp 463 billion for the project.

“I told Bapak President that I really appreciate his efforts. Now, we have to decide how much money to be saved from the total lost. We also questioned whether the project will be once again carried out by Ministry of Youth and Sports, or shall we look for another location,” Harry Azhar said.

BPK, Harry added, really appreciate the efforts to save the money and make it as the country’s asset.  “The President’s efforts must be appreciated,” Harry concluded. (FID/RMI/ES)(RAS/MMB/YM/Naster)