Soeharto backs KONI's restructuring plan<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): President Soeharto gave his full support
\nyesterday to a restructuring plan initiated by the newly-elected
\nchairman of the National Sports Council (KONI) Wismoyo
\nArismunandar.<\/p>\n
The former Army chief of staff paid a courtesy call on the
\nPresident yesterday at the Bina Graha presidential office to
\nreport that he had completed the line-up of KONI's leadership
\nboard. After meeting with Soeharto, however, Wismoyo said that
\nthe President insisted that the plan, which may involve military
\ncommanders, not provoke any civil-military conflicts.<\/p>\n
The KONI chairman's idea to divide the national sports council
\ninto six regional offices was aired in a meeting with sports
\njournalists early this month. Wismoyo said he wanted a military
\ncommander to head each office, which would conform with the
\nIndonesian army which has 10 regional offices.<\/p>\n
\"Let the people make their own choices. Electing a military
\ncommander as the head of a KONI regional chapter is not a must,\"
\nWismoyo quoted Soeharto as saying.<\/p>\n
The restructuring plan will split Indonesia into six regional
\nsports authorities with jurisdictions over Java, Sumatra,
\nKalimantan, Sulawesi, Nusa Tenggara and Maluku\/Irian Jaya.
\nWismoyo said all KONI provincial chapters will elect their
\nrespective regional leaders in the upcoming days.<\/p>\n
Wismoyo reiterated that the plan was urgent since KONI was no
\nlonger able to cope with sports development in 27 provinces. The
\nnew organizational pattern is expected to improve sports in each
\nprovince.<\/p>\n
Wismoyo said the President also paid full attention to
\nfinancial shortcomings KONI is facing. President agreed that
\nhealthy businesses should be solicited to provide sports funding.<\/p>\n
President Soeharto has agreed, upon returning from his
\nEuropean visit next month, to swear in KONI's leadership board
\nfor the first time in Indonesian history.<\/p>\n
\"The President will install KONI's new top officials not
\nbecause of Wismoyo, but because KONI is carrying out the broad
\noutline of state policy,\" said Imam Suyudi, an assistant to
\nMinister of Youth Affairs and Sports.<\/p>\n
Only a handful of old hands remain in the National Sports
\nCouncil's leadership board, as Wismoyo yesterday announced the
\nboard's new line-up, consisting of 42 people including himself.<\/p>\n
The \"greening\" of the board reflects an attempt to integrate
\npeople from powerful agencies in order to facilitate the National
\nSports Council's (KONI's) operations.<\/p>\n
In addition to the line-up, the retired four-star general
\nreferred to the so-called \"special staff\", which should help
\nprovide funds for financing KONI activities. The staff, according
\nto newly-appointed treasurer Setya Tanto, now already has 75
\nbusinessmen as members. Tanto added many other businessmen had
\nshown interest in joining.<\/p>\n
Wismoyo said that each sports organization would have a
\nbusinessmen as its patron but declined to reveal the names of the
\nbusinessmen and how much money they would provide, saying that
\nthis matter was still under discussion.<\/p>\n
The line-up features representatives from the Ministry of
\nYouth Affairs and Sports, with which KONI, under former chairman
\nSurono, had a discordant relationship; as well as representatives
\nfrom the Ministry of Transportation, the Ministry of Home Affairs
\nand even representatives from the presidential guards
\norganization.<\/p>\n
Wismoyo, punctuating his speech with jokes, also picked up
\ndeputy chairman of the National Planning Development Board
\n(Bappenas), Rahardi Ramlan, as his second deputy chairman.<\/p>\n
Wismoyo's reason was that \"solid planning is also needed to
\nfurther national sports. Hence, it is important to involve
\nBappenas.\"<\/p>\n
Former Jakarta Military Commander A. M. Hendropriyono, timber
\ntycoon Mohamad \"Bob\" Hasan, former Jakarta Police Chief Maj. Gen.
\n(ret.) Hindarto and Rudolf Warouw are among Wismoyo's top-ranking
\nassistants. (arf)<\/p>",
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