Family planning board seeks funds from Soeharto foundation

JAKARTA (JP): The government is seeking to claim billions of rupiah of funds earmarked for National Family Planning Board (BKKBN) field workers by a New Order foundation.

BKKBN chief Khofifah Indar Parawansa said on Tuesday the workers deserved three percent of the credit venture's interest raised by the former president Soeharto-sanctioned Dana Sejahtera Mandiri Foundation.

"It is clearly stipulated in the memorandum of agreement, which was signed in 1996, that the foundation should donate half of the six percent interest imposed on its customers to the field workers. But so far the foundation has not fulfilled its obligation," Khofifah said.

She said she did not know precisely how much the foundation owed to the workers, but a provincial BKKBN official told her his office should have accumulated Rp 1 billion.

The foundation has helped the government raise funds for the credit venture and distribute it, based on two presidential decrees which require individuals and companies with annual after tax earnings of more than Rp 100 million to donate up to two percent to the foundation.

It was reported last year that the foundation had collected Rp 1.5 trillion since its inception.

In 1998 Soeharto and his son Bambang Trihatmodjo, who was the foundation's treasurer, were questioned at the Attorney General's Office for alleged misuse of the funds.

Last year, Soeharto's successor B.J. Habibie issued a decree to withdraw the foundation's funds.

BKKBN's chief of research and development Pudjo Rahardjo said the board had warned the foundation three times since last year, only to receive no reply.

"Maybe we will have to seek legal action if the foundation keeps ignoring our demand," he added.

He admitted that the 1996 agreement did not set a time frame for the foundation to pay the funds to the family planning board. The agreement will expire in 2001.

Khofifah said she was committed to claiming the money. "We understand the importance of the field workers and the funds are their right. We, therefore, will demand the foundation pay it as soon as possible," she said.

Khofifah also said the board would enhance the participation of the male population in the family planning program.

"Men make up only 4.6 percent of around 27 million family planning participants. They should be reminded that it is the responsibility of married couples to achieve a small and prosperous family," she said.

In the time being, the board would increase the promotion of condoms as a family planning contraceptive device, Pudjo added. (04)