Regarding (the contribution of) Mr. Bas (Hadimuljono) (in sports), I had been the witness.
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR) Minister Basuki Hadimuljono's appointment as chief de mission (CdM) will bring success to the Indonesian contingent at the XIX Asian Games, a cabinet member stated.

"I am sure that through his (Hadimuljono’s) work, all of these activities (of the Indonesian contingent) will run successfully and encourage Indonesia to reach the 1st place as well as bring Indonesia to glory through sports," Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Cultural Affairs Muhadjir Effendy said, as quoted from a statement on Tuesday.

Effendy made the statement at the announcement of the CdM of the Indonesian Team for 2023 here on Tuesday.

Effendy praised Hadimuljono for always creating great works that helped him earn the title of the "Father of Indonesian Highways," so the minister is expected to also create breakthroughs to drive Indonesia's achievements at the Asian Games.

Meanwhile, Hadimuljono said he will immediately communicate with all executive boards of the national associations of the sports competed at the XIX Asian Games to support the selected athletes during their national training program and participation in the Games.

“Asian Games will contest a lot of sports, so my duty is to create a nice atmosphere (for the athletes). Thus, they can be (a) solid (team) and enjoy in facing the matches,” he remarked.

On the same occasion, Chairperson of the Indonesian Olympic Committee (KOI) Raja Sapta Oktohari said that his side had conducted the selection process for the CdM according to various considerations.

He noted that the PUPR Ministry's success in supporting the implementation of the XVIII Jakarta-Palembang Asian Games in 2018 led to the PUPR minister’s appointment as the CdM.

Hadimuljono has been serving as the Indonesian PUPR minister since October 27, 2014, until now.

“We had been successful in implementing the Asian Games and Asian Para Games in 2018. (Participating in the) Asian Games is important (to improve our achievements), so we give the trust (of being the contingent’s CdM) to an important figure too,” Oktohari remarked.

In addition, Hadimuljono's appointment refers to his experience as chairperson of the Indonesia Rowing Sports Association (PB PODSI) in accompanying the athletes during their participation in the XXXI SEA Games in Hanoi, Vietnam, on May 12-23, 2022.

“Regarding (the contribution of) Mr. Bas (Hadimuljono) (in sports), I had been the witness. We were together in Vietnam (to attend the XXXI SEA Games), (and) Mr. Bas never abandoned the rowing athletes since the first until the last day (of the Games),” Oktohari remarked.

The XIX Asian Games will be held in Hangzhou, China, from September 23 to October 8, 2023.

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Translator: Indra Pribadi, Uyu Liman
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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