Aceh gold medalist Habli hopes for permanent job

Moch. N. Kurniawan, The Jakarta Post, Palembang

For Habli, winning the gold in fencing for Aceh at the ongoing National Games (PON) is an honor -- and for Aceh, it is the shiniest, most gleaming medal, given that it is the only gold the province has won to date at the quadrennial sporting spectacle.

Aceh could have been deprived of Habli's gold if the 32-year- old fencer had taken the offer to play for another province.

Habli said he had rejected the offer because of his love for his homeland -- and proved his loyalty in style, beating Andre Senduk of North Sulawesi in the individual epee final on Sunday.

Now that his decision has borne fruit for Aceh, Habli, who is a part-time civil servant employed at a state company, hopes for recognition and a better life, as the province had promised to successful athletes.

However, his is a modest wish: "I just hope that in winning this gold medal, the Aceh administration will raise me to a permanent position," he told The Jakarta Post.

He said the Aceh government had promised a job and a bonus for athletes who claimed a gold at the National Games.

"A permanent position is necessary for me and my family, as it will ensure a steady income. And hopefully, they will fulfill their promise and I can expect a better life in the future."

Habli, who was born on April 5, 1972, in Banda Aceh, said he received Rp 500,000 (US$55) per month as a part-time employee.

The money, he said, went toward paying rent on a house, which he shares with wife Yuliana and only daughter, 4-year-old Varas Nabila.

"I think the Aceh government should pay attention to its athletes, who have flown the province's flag at the national level," he said.

"But so far, the administration has seemed more interested in recruiting athletes from other provinces in the hopes of winning gold medals in the National Games," said Habli.

Habli said he started learning to fence in 1988, when he was in the third year of junior high school.

With his strong will, he made it onto the province's PON fencing team in 1992. He has since been on the team in all succeeding Games -- 1996, 2000 and 2004.

In his first two PON showings, Habli did not get any medals; but third time lucky, in 2000 he won a bronze.

"Now I've taken the gold," he said, clearly proud.

In addition, Habli has had a double-shot at playing in the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games, and was recruited to the training center for the 1999 and 2001 events.

However, he did not make the cut on both occasions, which explains humbly: "That's life. I did my best, but others proved better than me."

Now that he is the national fencing champion, Habli might want another shot for a place in the 2005 SEA Games -- but given his age, he might think this unrealistic.

He does, saying he was satisfied he had given his best to Aceh -- a feat that would never have been possible had he accepted an offer from East Java in 1997.

East Java had offered Habli and four compatriots a slot on the province's team with an added incentive of a permanent job.

The province struck gold seven times in 1985 and in 1989, but its haul dropped drastically to only two in the succeeding two PON, and finally one in 2000.

Although he sees that his former compatriots have a better life now with the East Java team, Habli does not regret his decision.

"After I won a bronze, I wrote a letter to the (Aceh) governor in 2000 to help me find a job. The governor fulfilled my wish and I accepted the offer, although it was only a part-time job," he said.

Now that he has won a gold, however, he said he did not expect anything more than a permanent civil-servant position.

"I would be grateful to the Aceh government if it could give me a permanent job," said fencing-master Habli.