Games consortium urged to submit pre-audit report

JAKARTA (JP): State Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Hayono Isman urged yesterday the 19th SEA Games consortium to hand over pre-auditing report soon before he meets the House's Commission on Culture, Education, Religion, Youth Affairs and Sports on Nov. 24.

"I hope the consortium could hand over the pre-auditing report so I can relate it to the commission during a hearing on Nov. 24. The public has the right to know how much money has been collected and where did it go," he told reporters after playing golf.

"I know that the auditing process can only be reported after it is finished but we can use the pre-auditing report as a material to report to the House."

"Until today, the consortium doesn't spend any money for the SEA Games unless the Indonesian Soccer Association asks for financial assistance to pay the referees' allowance during the Games," he said.

The association still owes US$69,000 to the referees and will be punished by the Asian Football Confederation if it does not pay it by the end of this month.

The consortium, chaired by President Soeharto's son Bambang Trihatmodjo, has promised to finish the audit by the end of this month.

The consortium had planned to provide Rp 105 billion (US$29.9 million) to finance the biennial event, which took place from Oct. 11 to Oct. 19, and to groom national athletes.

"I think the consortium gave more than Rp 105 billion because it has to lend Rp 50 billion from banks with 15 percent interest," he said.

The consortium has been raising the fund by selling stickers from the public while they are paying their electricity, water and telephone bills. They also have to pay for the stickers when they buy airplane tickets and extend their driving licenses.

The permit to sell the stickers will end next month.

Hayono also said that his office has been providing two houses from PT Daksa in Cibinong and two vacant lots at the Kota Legenda in Bekasi.

One of the houses was given to weight lifter Sri Indriyani, who broke the world junior record during the Games. While one of the lots will be given to the rowing team.

"But another house and lot will be handed over to who? I'm still waiting for input for my staff," Hayono said.

Hayono said Thailand weight lifter Kassaraporn Suta, who also broke a world record in the clean and jerk lift, will receive a Timor car.

"We'll inform the Thailand embassy soon," he said. (yan)