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PASI sets stage for Luhut as new chief
“Pak Luhut will be officially named as the new chairman through the PASI virtual congress on Monday,” said PASI spokesman Hendri Firzani.
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he Indonesian Athletics Association (PASI) is soon to formally elect Coordinating Maritime Affairs and Investment Minister Luhut Pandjaitan as its new chief, replacing acting chief Zacky Anwar Makarim, who was entrusted with the leadership baton following PASI’s influential chief Mohammad "Bob" Hasan, who died on March 31 last year.
PASI spokesman Hendri Firzani said Luhut’s complex background and track record as a capable figure has apparently been able to lure support from members of PASI regional branches. He said all 34 PASI regional branch members have tendered their official support for the ex-army general.
“Pak Luhut will be officially named as the new chairman through the PASI virtual congress on Monday,” he said recently.
Luhut himself, through an official letter, has agreed to the association’s offer.
Congress organizer Umarsono acknowledged that they were going virtual due to the increasing number of COVID-19 cases. He further said the congress would be opened by Indonesian Sports Council (KONI) chief Lt. Gen. (Ret.) Marciano Norman. Marciano will also be the one who installs Luhut as chief for the 2021-2025 tenure.
PASI secretary-general Tigor Tanjung said that the association had also approached other candidates for the positions. However, he went on, only Luhut had come forward and shown enthusiasm over the role.
He confirmed that Luhut’s comprehensive background as an army general, as Indonesia’s ambassador for Singapore under BJ Habibie’s presidency and as trade and industry minister under Abdurrahman Wahid’s presidency qualified Luhut and contributed to him being deemed a reliable leader for the organization.
Besides, Luhut had also chaired the Indonesian Karate Do Association (FORKI) from 2006 until 2010 and therefore was familiar with the responsibility of chairing a sport organization.
Tigor expressed his conviction that Luhut, through his diplomatic skills, would be able to create ideal conditions for PASI and its athletes, regionally and internationally.
Luhut, however, would fill the big shoes of Bob Hasan, who was widely recognized as an irreplaceable figure that had been all out for the country’s track and field community. Bob, part of Soeharto’s closest circle during the New Order era, went beyond the call of duty. Not only did he take care of athletes’ training packages, but he reached further into their personal lives.
He did that with the sole purpose of lifting athletes’ social status by empowering them to manage their fortunes better.
During an interview with The Jakarta Post last year, Bob said he had made an internal regulation that would prohibit athletes to waste their fortunes from cash prizes. He mandated that all athletes invest or come up with business ideas instead. Bob, a veteran entrepreneur himself, meant business.
“Once I heard about one of our athletes buying a pricey motorcycle. I scolded him, saying that he would not be allowed to train with us anymore unless he sold that motorbike and turned it into some investment or business,” he said.
