Oky, Helmy to compete for IMI top post
Oky, Helmy to compete for IMI top post
YOGYAKARTA (JP): Oky Harwanto, the Indonesian Motorsports
Association (IMI) Jakarta chapter chairman, and Helmy Sungkar, a
motor racing promoter, will run in the election for the
organization's top post for the 1999-2003 term in the 4th
national congress.
Oky, who is also the treasurer of the Indonesian Automotive
Foundation (YOI), said he was ready to replace current chairman
Bob R.E. Nasution as chairman of IMI but he refused to reveal his
programs should he elected.
"Certainly I will continue the work programs set in this
congress," he said, adding that he was not obliged to quit YOI
and concentrate on IMI.
Minister of Transportation, Agum Gumelar, opened the two-day
congress at the Melia Purosani Hotel Friday. Chairman of the
National Sports Council (KONI) Wismoyo Arismunandar was among the
guests at the opening ceremony.
Agum, chairman of the Soccer Association of Indonesia (PSSI)
who turned down an offer to be a candidate for the IMI
chairmanship, said he could not throw his weight behind either of
the candidates.
"It's not important who will win the election as long as the
process takes place in a democratic way," he said.
The three-star general expressed hope that the new chairman
would lead the association into the new millennium when free
competition would be introduced in Indonesia.
"IMI must be ready to cooperate with other institutions,
particularly the privately-owned ones, and should not put its
hope on government support," he said.
Bob said in his accountability speech that signs of economic
recovery, already apparent during the new government's short
reign, would bring profit to the association.
He said that there were many national events which were put
off during his term in office due to financial shortages.
IMI and YOI have jointly groomed seven talented racers for top
events, including Ananda Mikola (Formula 3000), Bagus Hermanto
(Audi Palmer Formula), Ahmad Jayadi (Motor racing), Irwan
Ardyansah (Motorcross), Harry Dharma and Fino Saksono (Asian
Formula). (44)