BLITAR – A power outage at the office of the National Sports Committee of Indonesia (KONI) in Blitar City has triggered concerns over financial management and athlete preparation ahead of the East Java Provincial Sports Week (Porprov).
The utility company cut electricity to the KONI office after KONI reportedly failed to pay its utility bills for around three months. The situation has drawn criticism from newly elected KONI chairman M. Samanhudi Anwar, who said the disruption should never occur while local athletes intensify preparations for major competitions.
Samanhudi said the blackout could affect training coordination and administrative activities that support sports development programs across the city. He stressed that athletes and coaches need stable organizational support as they prepare for Porprov East Java.
“Problems like this should not happen. They can disrupt athletes who are preparing for training and competition,” Samanhudi said on Monday.
According to him, the KONI office currently remains dark and partially inactive because several facilities cannot operate without electricity. The office serves as a central hub for communication between sports administrators and local sports associations, making uninterrupted operations essential.
Samanhudi said he had received information indicating that the office failed to pay electricity bills for approximately three months before the utility company disconnected the service.
“I heard the electricity bills remained unpaid for about three months. This deserves serious attention because the KONI office should continue supporting sports development activities,” he said.
The newly elected chairman also questioned how previously disbursed funds were managed. He argued that basic operational expenses such as electricity should have remained fully covered through existing financial allocations.
He pointed to grant funding that local authorities had already released and said those resources should have covered essential office operations. In his view, responsibility for the situation rests with both the previous management and the local government, which oversees budget allocations.
“This should have been covered by the grant funds that were already disbursed. Electricity is a basic operational requirement,” Samanhudi said.
Despite the controversy, Samanhudi emphasized that his primary concern remains athlete development. He called for a transparent explanation regarding the unpaid bills and urged all parties to resolve the issue quickly.
The KONI office plays a key role in coordinating sports programs, athlete development, and competition planning across multiple sports disciplines. Any disruption to its operations could affect communication and support services for athletes preparing for upcoming events.
Samanhudi said he wants the organization to focus on improving athletic performance rather than dealing with administrative problems.
“We want to focus on sports development and athlete achievements. Issues like this need immediate solutions,” he said.
The incident has raised broader questions about financial accountability within local sports organizations as Blitar athletes continue preparations for one of East Java’s biggest sporting events.