EN.malanginspirasi.com – The Commission X of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI) is calling for severe sanctions, including a lifetime ban from the sports world, against the perpetrator of alleged sexual harassment and physical violence against eight athletes from the Indonesian National Climbing Training Center (Pelatnas).
This strong stance follows the temporary deactivation of Head Coach Hendra Basir by the Indonesian Climbing Federation (FPTI) since late February 2026.
Hetifah Sjaifudian, Chairperson of Commission X, expressed the commission’s firm position.
“If proven guilty, the perpetrator must receive heavy punishment and be banned for life from involvement in sports,” she stated on Saturday (February 28, 2026).
She harshly criticized the incidents, noting that they took place in the national training center, which should be a safe space for athletes.
“We must not tolerate any form of sexual violence, particularly in the sports world, which is supposed to be a safe environment for athletes to grow and achieve success,” she stressed.
Hetifah commended Youth and Sports Minister Erick Thohir for his quick response and full support for the Fact-Finding Team (TPF) established by FPTI. She views the temporary suspension of Hendra Basir as an appropriate measure to protect the athletes and ensure an objective investigation.
“This case must be investigated thoroughly,” she added, emphasizing the importance of creating a strong deterrent to prevent future cases.
Commission X member Verrell Bramasta voiced his full support for the victims.
“I stand by the victims and pray for them and their families who have been affected. We will closely monitor this case, and if proven guilty, the perpetrator must face firm sanctions so that there are no more victims in the future,” he said, as quoted by antaranews.com.
Verrell also called for maximum protection for the eight athletes, including keeping their identities confidential and providing adequate psychological recovery support. This aligns with the Ministry of Youth and Sports (Kemenpora), which has opened complaint channels for victims of harassment in the sports sector.
Pelatnas Halted
The allegations emerged on January 28, 2026, when the eight Pelatnas athletes (both male and female) reported suspected sexual harassment and physical violence, including slapping, to FPTI Chairperson Yenny Wahid, accompanied by the team’s psychologist.
In response, FPTI issued Decree Number 0209/SKP/PP.NAS/II/2026, temporarily deactivating Hendra Basir until the investigation concludes. The Pelatnas program was briefly halted, and athletes from East Java were sent home ahead of preparations for the 2026 Asian Games.
Hendra Basir has vehemently denied the sexual harassment accusations. He acknowledged hugging and kissing the foreheads of female athletes during moments of mental distress. But described these actions as motivational gestures akin to those of a parent toward their children.
“I am disappointed,” he said, questioning why no initial clarification (tabayun) was sought. His contract as head coach ended on February 28, 2026.
The scandal comes at a time when Indonesian sport climbing is enjoying tremendous success, with Olympic gold in speed climbing, world records, and Asian dominance. The case has nonetheless damaged the reputation of the fast-rising sport and ignited broad discussions on athlete safeguarding protocols.
