Savings scheme for sport not dead yet: Hayono<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): State Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports
\nHayono Isman, who is being accused of condoning gambling in
\nraising funds for sports development, yesterday said his plan for
\na savings scheme has not been abandoned completely.<\/p>\n
Hayono however acknowledged that the scheme, known as
\nTapornas, has been widely discredited by bad publicity even
\nbefore the study on it was completed.<\/p>\n
\"Tapornas is beaten black and blue before the concept was even
\nfinalized,\" he said during a hearing with House of
\nRepresentatives' Commission IX, which covers sport,Antara
\nreported.<\/p>\n
The plan has earned a bad name because of the publicity, and
\nso it might now be difficult to launch even if it was finally
\napproved, he said, adding that he had originally hoped the saving
\nscheme could be launched in 1996.<\/p>\n
Tapornas was shot down from virtually all sides within a
\nmatter of days after the minister disclosed the plan last month.
\nCritics said that like the previous SDSB lottery, Tapornas was
\nbound to encourage gambling.<\/p>\n
SDSB, which generated funds for the development of the
\ncountry's sports, was scrapped in 1993 after strong protests from
\nreligious leaders.<\/p>\n
Government officials have stressed that Tapornas is not a
\nreplacement of SDSB. It is a savings scheme with a low interest
\nrate but big prizes drawn at regular intervals.<\/p>\n
More recently, Hayono came under criticism following
\ndisclosures that he condoned a number of private companies to run
\namusement centers in Central Java on the government's behalf in
\nreturn for royalties, which would be used to finance sports. The
\ncritics said that video games at the amusement centers have been
\nwidely used for gambling purposes.<\/p>\n
The Antara report did not say whether this latest accusation
\nwas raised during the House hearing yesterday.<\/p>\n
Hayono acknowledged that the saving scheme could be turned
\ninto a gambling scheme, but added that almost anything could also
\nbe manipulated the same way.<\/p>\n
\"A soccer game could also generate gambling,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He explained that the government has agreed to continue
\nexploring the possibility of launching the savings scheme despite
\nthe criticisms it has generated over the past month.<\/p>\n
He added that his office is putting together a team to study
\nthe proposal with the House and the Islamic and Christian
\nreligious councils, the banking community and other
\norganizations.<\/p>\n
The minister also suggested that it was now time to consider
\nincreasing the allocation of the government budget for the
\ndevelopment of sports.<\/p>\n
The Rp 75 billion allocated out of the government's budget for
\na period of five years is far too small, he said, adding that he
\nhad repeatedly requested Rp 200 billion but was always rejected.
\n(emb)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/savings-scheme-for-sport-not-dead-yet-hayono-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}