Headline:
Abandoned Rolls-Royce Ghost in Government Warehouse: A Tale of Luxury and Neglect
Subheading:
Unused since 2016, the luxury car sits idle as bureaucracy delays its sale.
Article Body:
In the heart of Jakarta, nestled within the premises of the Ministry of Social Affairs, an unusual sight catches the eye: a Rolls-Royce Ghost, dormant and untouched, gathering dust in a government warehouse. This isn’t a case of extravagant government spending; rather, it’s a tale of a prize gone unclaimed and bureaucratic red tape delaying its sale.
The Rolls-Royce, a silver masterpiece with blacked-out B-pillars, is a 2012 Ghost model. It was initially a grand prize in a lottery by an airline. When the winner couldn’t be found, the airline handed over the car to the Ministry of Social Affairs in 2016. Since then, the luxury sedan has been left to fade into obscurity in the ministry’s garage.
The car, a testament to British craftsmanship, boasts a 6.6-liter twin-turbo V12 engine, delivering 562 horsepower and 780 Nm of torque. Paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission and rear-wheel drive, it promises a thrilling drive, if only it ever left the warehouse.
The car made headlines briefly in 2021 when Minister Tri Rismaharini attempted to auction it off. However, it failed to find a buyer, leaving the Rolls-Royce to gather more dust and politically charged whispers.
In December 2024, the current Minister of Social Affairs, Saifullah Yusuf or Gus Ipul, reignited the controversy. He revealed that the winner of the lottery couldn’t afford to claim the car. According to him, the winner would have to pay a quarter of the original price, amounting to a hefty sum of at least Rp 5 billion, given today’s market prices.
Ipul hinted that the ministry could use the funds from the car’s sale to support social programs. "The money will be used to help those in need, perhaps for clean water projects or housing," he said.
As the Rolls-Royce Ghost continues to collect dust, the ministry struggles to find a balance between recuperating funds and making sure the sale doesn’t become a political liability. Meanwhile, the car, a symbol of luxury and neglect, remains a poignant reminder of the peculiarities of government bureaucracy.
