KONI wants details of MMI-proposed fund program<\/p>\n
Zakki Hakim and Eva C. Komandjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The National Sports Council (KONI) is awaiting a follow-up report
\nfrom PT Metropolitan Magnum Indonesia (MMI) on their partnership
\nin a controversial fund-raising scheme for national sporting
\norganizations.<\/p>\n
\"KONI is waiting to see what more they have to present for the
\nproposal,\" KONI's sports business and industry commission head,
\nAndhy Nena Wea, said on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
He says MMI must provide further details of the program before
\nKONI signs the agreement.<\/p>\n
MMI, a subsidiary of Malaysian gaming company Magnum
\nCorporation Berhad (MCB), has obtained a license from the
\nMinistry of Social Affairs to operate the program.<\/p>\n
Many Muslims oppose the program because they say it is nothing
\nmore than a form of gambling. However, Ruchadi, the ministry's
\nsecretary-general, told The Jakarta Post on Wednesday that the
\nproposal by MMI was to raise funds through ticket sales for
\nsports games, with spectators to be rewarded in the form of a
\nlucky draw.<\/p>\n
Ruchadi said the ministry had never received a proposal for
\nany form of number guessing game as described in local media
\nreports.<\/p>\n
\"We would not have endorsed the MMI proposal if it contained
\nany form of gambling such as number guessing.<\/p>\n
\"As long as the proposal does not violate any law and is not a
\ngambling game, we will grant them the license,\" Ruchadi said.<\/p>\n
The fund-raising program is run in the form of gambling in
\nMalaysia, according to Andhy, who said he visited MCB's
\nheadquarters in Kuala Lumpur in September after the MMI proposal
\nwas forwarded to his office.<\/p>\n
He said that KONI told MMI to modify the game into something
\nthat would be acceptable to Indonesia's laws and culture.<\/p>\n
He said that KONI would only follow up on the proposal if MMI
\nreceived the necessary licenses from the relevant institutions,
\nincluding the Ministry of Social Affairs and the Indonesian
\nCouncil of Ulemas (MUI).<\/p>\n
Earlier, KONI secretary-general Djohar Arifin Husin said that
\nKONI and MMI signed a memorandum of understanding containing a
\nclause allowing the sports organization to cancel the deal should
\nthe scheme contain any elements of gambling or anything else that
\ncould harm KONI's reputation.<\/p>\n
He confirmed that KONI had been promised to receive a fixed Rp
\n3 billion plus 10 percent royalty every month.<\/p>\n
Separately, the Indonesian Council of Ulemas said it could not
\nissue a fatwa (Islamic religious edict) about the controversial
\nsports draw until it received more details.<\/p>\n
The council's secretary-general, Din Syamsuddin, told the Post
\nthe MUI had not received any details from KONI about the scheme
\nand therefore could not say whether it would oppose the draw.<\/p>\n
However, he said that KONI or the Ministry of Social Affairs
\nshould have discussed the draw with the MUI before signing any
\nagreements with MMI.<\/p>\n
Masdar Mas'udi, an expert on Islamic law at the Nahdlatul
\nUlama (NU) Muslim organization, told the Post that if the scheme
\nwas a door prize game it would not be gambling, and therefore
\nnot forbidden to Muslims.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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