Give new KONI board a chance, says Agum

Give new KONI board a chance, says Agum

Musthofid, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The new board of the National Sports Council (KONI) was announced
on Wednesday, with chairman Agum Gumelar appealing to the sports
community to give the members time to do their work.

"Give us a chance to carry out our program to try to advance
national sports," Agum said after announcing the members of the
39-strong board at KONI headquarters here.

The new board, which will sit from 2003 to 2007, is slimmer
than its predecessor under the four-year term of chairman Wismoyo
Arismunandar, which had 65 members.

Some of the board members have been kept on from the old
board. Among them are Oyong Karmayuda, who now takes up the post
of secretary-general, and Indra Kartasasmita, who now heads the
planning and budgeting department.

Although the majority are new faces, a few of them have
already served KONI at some time in the past.

Djoko Pramono's appointment as the head of the development
department marks his return to KONI following his service during
the 1995-1999 term. He was absent from 1999 to 2003.

Timbul Thomas Lubis, who was the deputy of the organizational
department under Hendardji, also makes a reappearance.

Agum, who is also the chairman of the national soccer
governing body, the PSSI, has brought in three of his soccer
organization colleagues: Irawadi Hanafi, Dimas Wahab and Andi
Darussalam.

As far as the military-civilian issue is concerned, Agum's
appointment of four retired military officers marks a major
reduction in the number of military men compared to the previous
board, which was almost 75 percent made up of military officers.

Professional diversity also colors Agum's board with the
employment of media figure Sumohadi Marsis, model Larasati,
sportsmen Ricky Subagdja and Richard Sam Bera, and Ishadi from
the television industry.

Agum, who has three deputy chairpersons, Rita Subowo, Toho
Cholik Mutohir and Ferdinand Nainggolan, said he was aware of
some dissatisfaction over his policies.

"I'm know that no decision will satisfy all sides. I'm aware
of this. To those who are dissatisfied, I would say, give us
time.

"Don't automatically think negatively of the board. Such a way
of thinking is out of place in sport," Agum said.

While pledging to make further efforts to ensure the passage
of the sports bill, which would ensure the availability of
financial support for sport, Agum also said that he would launch
a pioneering approach to fund-raising.