Damura given ultimatum to improve program soon<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): State Minister for Social Affairs and chairman
\nof the National Social Welfare Agency (BKSN) Anak Agung Gde Agung
\nhas given an ultimatum to PT Mutiara Mandala Mahardhika (3M) to
\nimprove its fund raising scheme Damura (People's Fund for Sports)
\nin two-weeks time starting from March 24.<\/p>\n
Speaking at a media conference on Friday, Anak Agung said PT
\n3M must be able to fulfill 12 conditions as formulated by his
\noffice.<\/p>\n
The 12 conditions are:<\/p>\n
1. Damura coupons and insurance policies be sealed by officials
\nfrom BKSN 10 days before being printed, validated by a public
\nnotary and witnessed by police and officials from related
\ndepartments.<\/p>\n
2. Damura coupons and insurance policies be printed by the state-
\nowned money printing company PT Peruri.<\/p>\n
3. The maximum prize money be Rp 1.5 billion (US$202,700) for
\neach period of three months or a total of Rp 6 billion for four
\nperiods in a year.<\/p>\n
4. PT 3M must follow the schedule issued by the (former) minister
\nof social affairs. Should there be an opportunity, PT 3M must
\nrequest permission from the office of the state minister for
\nsocial affairs.<\/p>\n
5. Damura coupons must also function as tickets to watch sporting
\nevents.<\/p>\n
6. These sporting events be scheduled in advance, before the
\ncoupons are sold to the public.<\/p>\n
7. The coupons only be sold close to sporting events in the
\ncapital of Jakarta, provincial capitals and centers of big
\ncities.<\/p>\n
8. The prize money offered to the public be not too great, hence
\nencouraging people to buy coupons just to win prizes and forget
\nthe main goal.<\/p>\n
9. PT 3M must avoid ways which encourage gambling in deciding
\nprize winners.<\/p>\n
10. Damura operators be observed by the people, including the
\nHouse of Representatives, the Indonesian Consumers Agency (YLKI)
\nand nongovernmental organizations.<\/p>\n
11. National sport's development must get a larger share of the
\nmoney raised through Damura.<\/p>\n
12. Insurance claim facilities must be available in Jakarta,
\nprovincial capitals and big cities nationwide.<\/p>\n
Requirements<\/p>\n
Anak Agung said two weeks was a fair amount of time for PT 3M
\nto fulfill the 12 conditions.<\/p>\n
\"They have prepared the program for three years. They should
\nhave read all the requirements issued last week. I think they
\nstill have time in two weeks to consult with their American
\npartner. They can calculate if their business will be profitable
\nby following our conditions,\" he said.<\/p>\n
\"If they fail to fulfill these conditions, which I doubt they
\nare able to do, we will deny them permission.\"<\/p>\n
Damura has sparked controversy since it was announced early
\nlast February. Many sports officials consider the program an
\nineffective way to raise funds for sports development because
\nonly 6.5 percent of its total income has been earmarked for
\nsports.<\/p>\n
While other people have said that Damura would encourage
\ngambling. The Rp 5,000 coupons are slated to offer a 1 in 7
\nchance of winning a prize, with the highest prize of Rp 25
\nmillion.<\/p>\n
The coupons, which will be printed by American company
\nScientific Games International, will also offer life insurance of
\nRp 2.5 million that expires in one month.<\/p>\n
Anak Agung said PT 3M had not followed the original
\nministerial decree issued last year.<\/p>\n
\"Damura organizers had approved a yearly highest prize of Rp 6
\nbillion. But later on, they increased the prize money to Rp 166
\nbillion, which is about 30 times higher. It will stimulate people
\nto buy Damura coupons because they want to win prizes instead of
\ncontributing their money to sports.\"<\/p>\n
\"I'm afraid it will also create disharmony among the people,
\nespecially the working classes, who spend at the most Rp 750,000
\na month. I fear they will use their money to buy the coupons
\ninstead of using it for more important things, including feeding
\ntheir children or paying school fees.\"<\/p>\n
Wealthier<\/p>\n
Anak Agung urged PT 3M to raise the price of the coupons and
\ntarget them toward wealthier people, who spend at least Rp 1
\nmillion each month.<\/p>\n
\"There are about 20 million people or 10 percent of Indonesian
\ncitizens who spend at least Rp 1 million each month. They should
\nbe the market for Damura coupons.\"<\/p>\n
Anak Agung said he did not fear that PT 3M, which is chaired
\nby Mutia Farida, would take him to court.<\/p>\n
\"The government didn't make the new regulations. It is they
\nwho break the regulations. They must prove that they will not
\nburden the public. We are only following what was stated in the
\nministerial decree issued last year,\" he said. (yan)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/damura-given-ultimatum-to-improve-program-soon-1447893297",
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