Legislator defies KONI candidacy requirements<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Oesman Sapta Odang, one of seven candidates vying for the top
\njob at the National Sports Council (KONI) during next week's
\nelection, said he was astounded at being told he had to obtain a
\npresidential endorsement for his candidacy.<\/p>\n
\"I'm shocked at the statement from the screening team that I
\nhave fallen short of meeting the requirements, one being the
\npermit from the president,\" Oesman said in Jakarta on Friday.<\/p>\n
\"Are they aware about what they say?\" Oesman, a People's
\nConsultative Assembly (MPR) deputy speaker, queried.<\/p>\n
His media briefing at the Century Hotel followed a statement
\nover the issue from the screening team, which consists seven
\nsports representatives.<\/p>\n
But the hotel businessman remained defiant.<\/p>\n
\"As a businessman in this case, I'm dependent of no one. So I
\ndon't need a permit from anyone. As deputy speaker of the MPR, no
\npatronage should be higher ... It's absolutely incorrect that I
\nneed a permit from the president,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Others contesting the chairpersonship during the three-day
\ncongress next week include KONI deputy chairman Arie Sudewo,
\nnational soccer chairman Agum Gumelar, karate-do chairman Luhut
\nPanjaitan, Jakarta Governor Sutiyoso, Iskandar Zulkarnain and
\nOctavianus Andy Gani Nena.<\/p>\n
In regard to a lack of support from sports' organizations or
\nKONI's provincial chapters for his bid, Oesman said a candidacy
\nshould not be determined by the number of backers.<\/p>\n
\"To join the race in the election, it's enough to have one
\norganization in support. It's the participants of the congress
\nwho will assess the eligibility of one's candidacy after they
\nhear the candidates' elaboration about their mission and vision,\"
\nhe said.<\/p>\n
Oesman has been backed so far only by the Indonesian Wushu
\nAssociation, while the screening team, which is popularly known
\nas Team of Seven, requires a minimum number of ten backers, be
\nthey KONI-affiliated sports organizations or KONI's provincial
\nchapters.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, the national contract bridge governing body Gabbsi
\nreiterated its support for Luhut Panjaitan. The body's deputy
\nsecretary-general Bert Toar Polii said the former minister of
\ntrade and industry was the right person to lead KONI for the next
\nfour-year term given that his vision was in accord with its own
\nvision for the future of sport in Indonesia.<\/p>\n
\"We would not lend our support to him if we did not know him
\nwell, including his policies on how to develop sports
\nnationally,\" Bert said as quoted by Antara. Gabbsi is one of
\nLuhut's 13 backers to date.<\/p>",
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