Jakarta. The government plans to repurpose Wisma Atlet Kemayoran, a landmark in Jakarta known for its pivotal role during the Covid-19 pandemic. This initiative is currently being formulated into a presidential instruction, which is expected to be issued this week.

Wisma Atlet, originally constructed to house athletes for the 2018 Asian Games, was transformed into an emergency hospital specifically for Covid-19 patients at the height of the pandemic. 

State Secretary Minister Pratikno announced that discussions are underway to determine the permanent use of Wisma Atlet. “We at the State Secretariat have invited the Finance Minister and the Public Works and Public Housing Minister to discuss the future use of the former Wisma Atlet. We need to create a policy for its permanent utilization moving forward,” Pratikno said at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta on Tuesday.

Finance Minister Sri Mulyani revealed that the government is considering various uses for Wisma Atlet, including commercial activities and housing for civil servants (ASN). “The Public Service Agency (BLU) has assessed the interest in several commercial activities. However, it will also serve as housing for civil servants, given the significant number of ASNs in the area,” she explained.

Sri emphasized that part of the plan includes maintaining the facility for national events, with BLU, under the State Secretariat, handling its commercial operations, similar to the management of Gelora Bung Karno (GBK).

Sri highlighted the need to utilize the asset to alleviate the financial burden of its maintenance. “The asset should not only incur additional costs but also provide utility,” she said. The government aims to design a new Inpres to leverage this asset, enhancing economic activities in Jakarta while retaining its public function.

“Currently, a new Inpres is being formulated by our team to balance the benefits of the asset with its various dimensions, primarily focusing on costs. There are ten towers there,” Sri concluded.

In addition to repurposing Wisma Atlet, the government plans to renovate the facility to align with its new functions. This transformation will ensure that the landmark continues to serve the community in meaningful ways.

In Dec. 2022, the Indonesian government decommissioned its largest makeshift Covid-19 hospital, located at Wisma Atlet, due to a steady decline in new cases. The makeshift hospital was established less than three weeks after the first Covid cases were confirmed in Indonesia on March 2, 2020.

With a capacity of up to 3,000 beds in four of the ten towers within the complex, the makeshift hospital became one of the world’s largest isolation facilities for Covid patients. Since its operation in March 2020, it has treated over 132,000 Covid patients, marking a significant chapter in Indonesia’s battle against the pandemic.