PASI insists Bob Hasan remains chairman<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Amateur Athletics Association
\n(PASI) turned down pressure from Indonesia's sports world to
\nstage a special congress to replace chairman Muhammad 'Bob'
\nHasan, who was sent to notorious Nusakambangan prison late last
\nmonth.<\/p>\n
PASI official in charge of organization and provincial
\nchapters, Kunarto, told a media conference on Monday that PASI
\nwould not appoint a caretaker to take over Hasan's tasks as the
\nlatter's commitment remained, to develop track and field events
\nin the country.<\/p>\n
\"Pak Hasan is the legitimate chairman, whatever his condition,
\nbecause the association's statutes do not mention any legal
\nstatus as requirement for a chairman.<\/p>\n
\"He has also asserted that his commitment to manage PASI is
\nunmoved, whether in happiness or sorrow.\"<\/p>\n
Kunarto also said that the replacement of chairman should take
\nplace in a special congress that must be requested by at least 17
\nprovincial chapters. Another rule states that a new chairman
\nwould be elected if the former one withdrew his post.<\/p>\n
\"As of today, none of the provincial chapters have ever asked
\nfor a special congress. Moreover, Pak Hasan has never thought of
\nquitting the association.\"<\/p>\n
He also hoped that people would no longer carry on the debate
\nover Hasan's top job at PASI.<\/p>\n
\"Let's leave it to the chapters to judge his working
\nperformance,\" said the former national police chief.<\/p>\n
Besides PASI, Bob Hasan also chairs the Indonesian Gymnastics
\nAssociation (Persani).<\/p>\n
Hasan, 70, a golf partner of former president Soeharto, was
\nsent on March 27 to the tightly-guarded Batu Nusakambangan
\npenitentiary, which is mainly inhabited by criminals convicted of
\nmurder, robbery and drug offenses.<\/p>\n
Hasan held the post of minister of industry and trade for
\nabout two months before Soeharto resigned in 1998 and the Cabinet
\nwas dissolved.<\/p>\n
Early in February, the Central Jakarta District Court
\nsentenced Hasan to two years in jail after he was found guilty of
\nmisusing US$75 million in funds belonging to the Ministry of
\nForestry. He was also ordered to pay a Rp 15 million (US$1,400)
\nfine and return Rp 14.1 billion to the state.<\/p>\n
The Jakarta High Court later tripled the jail term after it
\nfound that the state suffered losses of $243 million and ordered
\nthe convict to repay it.<\/p>\n
Kunarto said during Hasan's term in Cipinang, he was still
\nstrong enough to give advice in his capacity as PASI chairman or
\nhead of any national and regional event such as Asian Track and
\nField Championships, the Asian Amateur Athletic Association
\n(AAAA) and the Jawa-Bali circuit.<\/p>\n
\"PASI has established a clear mechanism and specific job
\ndescription. This mechanism allows the association to continue
\nwith its daily tasks without the presence of the chairman.<\/p>\n
\"All officials here understood what he or she should do and
\nhow to solve the problem because PASI's working program, either
\nfor four years or a one-year term, have very descriptive
\nguidelines. All can be completed on schedule and on target.\"<\/p>\n
Kunarto also brushed away allegations that Hasan's current
\nstatus had discouraged athletes.<\/p>\n
\"There is no direct relevance between an athlete's achievement
\nand Pak Hasan's legal status. Based on quantity, our gold
\nachievement at the 1999 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games is declining.
\nBut judging from the quality, Indonesia is the only gold medalist
\nfrom Southeast Asian nations competing in the 1998 Asian Games.\"<\/p>\n
Kunarto said PASI could not promise anything except to
\ncontinue to work hard.<\/p>\n
\"Only society and the National Sports Council can judge our
\nworks. One thing should be kept in mind, that as long as the
\ngovernment does not provide enough attention to sports
\ndevelopment, don't expect world class achievements,\" he said.
\n(ivy)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/pasi-insists-bob-hasan-remains-chairman-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}