Government to announce Games audit tomorrow<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The government will announce the results of an
\naudit on the 19th Southeast Asian Games' underwriting consortium
\ntomorrow, Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs Agung Laksono said
\nyesterday.<\/p>\n
The announcement will be made after he meets with the National
\nSports Council's top brass early tomorrow, Agung explained after
\nattending a dialog with youth organizations and students at
\nKemayoran, Central Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Early this month, the consortium submitted the audit,
\nconducted by public accountant KPMG Hanadi Soedjendro & Co., to
\nAgung.<\/p>\n
The minister refused to go into details about the
\naccountability report yesterday but confirmed that the consortium
\nhad a Rp 64 billion (US$8 million) deficit. The consortium,
\nchaired by President Soeharto's son Bambang Trihatmodjo, had
\npreviously reported Rp 68 billion in financial losses.<\/p>\n
\"The deficit is certain, but the consortium will close the gap
\na little bit after receiving money from the sticker sales,\" Agung
\nsaid, as quoted by Antara.<\/p>\n
Executive chairman of the consortium, Bambang Yoga Soegama,
\nsaid earlier that the deficit had been accrued from, among other
\nthings, clothes, accommodation and sports equipment expenses.<\/p>\n
The consortium, which had to provide Rp 156 billion to stage
\nthe SEA Games in October last year, was allowed to raise funds by
\nselling stickers.<\/p>\n
Under a decree issued by the social services minister in 1996,
\nit was compulsory to buy the stickers, which were included in the
\npayment of bills for telephone subscribers -- including cellular
\nphone users -- electricity consumers, air transportation
\ntravelers and motorists extending their driver's licenses.<\/p>\n
Agung was cautious about the possibility of further
\nexamination of the consortium following the audit.<\/p>\n
\"We will wait and see whether we need additional auditing of
\nthe consortium's report.\"<\/p>\n
On Friday, House of Representatives member Oelfah A.S Harmanto
\nsaid the legislative body would ask for the government's
\nexplanation on the consortium's performance if there were people
\nwho found the accountability report unacceptable.<\/p>\n
\"We will summon the government for a hearing as soon as we
\nresume the House session,\" Oelfah, a member of House Commission
\nVIII for education, religion, sports and youth affairs.<\/p>\n
The House has been in recess since the end of February but
\nwill sit again on May 4.<\/p>\n
Oelfah of the Golkar faction said the consortium's deficit
\nreport would raise some eyebrows.<\/p>\n
\"They're all professional businesspeople so how come they
\nsuffered that much of a deficit?\" she said. (emf\/amd)<\/p>",
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