Imam Nahrawi, Youth and Sports Minister
If the private sector is unwilling to sponsor him, the government will

In the past two weeks, Youth and Sports Minister Imam Nahrawi felt like he was inside a rollercoaster. He was up one time and plunging down the next. Fresh from his success in ensuring that Rio Haryanto takes part in the 2016 Formula 1 car racing events, he must immediately carry out President Joko Widodo's instruction to review the freeze on the All-Indonesia Football Association (PSSI). After all, he was the one who disbanded the association because he had felt it needed reforming.

Imam's determination to help Rio began when he declared that the government would provide him with Rp100 billion from the amended state budget (APBN-N). It was an idea that led to sharp public debate. Critics felt that it was too big a price to support just one athlete. Imam went ahead anyway, even going to the House of Representatives (DPR) for approval, which is expected to happen this coming April.

March 1, 2016