Bambang Hartono, a bronze medalist in the 2018 Asian Games’ bridge discipline and one of the richest men in Indonesia,
has praised the speedy disbursement of bonuses by the government to eligible athletes.
“I appreciate the government and the prompt awarding of bonuses so that athletes don’t have to return to Jakarta to receive the gratuities,” said Bambang at the State Palace in Jakarta on Sunday.
Bambang Hartono attended a gathering with the President as well as Indonesian medal-winning athletes and their coaches in the 18th Asian Games, during which the bonuses were symbolically handed over.
Michael Bambang Hartono is the owner of Djarum, a tobacco company, and one of Indonesia’s wealthiest people as stated by Forbes in March 2018, with assets worth Rp 225 trillion (US$16.7 billion).
Bambang, now 79 and the oldest athlete representing Indonesia in the Games, seized a bronze medal in the team bridge competition on Aug. 27, for which he is entitled to a Rp150 million bonus from the government.
“This bonus will be used to promote bridge,” added Bambang, who was dressed in the Indonesian team’s red jacket.
Bambang and his brother Budi Hartono are also shareholders of Bank Central Asia. Bambang himself owns 25 percent of BCA’s shares. (asiangames2018.id)