Govt reproaches Games sticker sponsors

JAKARTA (JP): The Ministry of Social Services reproached the private consortium and state-run utility companies yesterday for forcing consumers to buy stickers to finance this year's Southeast Asian Games.

Director General for Social Aid, Sjafei Andjasmaja, said stickers were optional and consumers should not be coerced into buying them, Antara reported.

Sjafei made the announcement after the ministry conducted an evaluation of the way the SEA Games stickers were being sold.

The stickers have raised strong public reaction since being introduced in April. People paying telephone and electricity bills have been required to contribute Rp 1,000, as have many patrons of restaurants and hotels. Owners of cellular phones have also complained that they have been inadvertently paying for the stickers without being informed beforehand.

The sale of the stickers was approved by Minister of Social Services Endang Kusuma Inten Suweno and governors of respective provinces.

The ministry, however, fell short of withdrawing the consortium's license.

The consortium is a group of private companies involved in building new sports facilities for the upcoming regional sporting event in October.

The license is scheduled to expire on June 6.

Jakarta Governor Surjadi Soedirdja has already terminated the sale of the stickers in the capital since Monday because of growing complaints from members of the public.

Surjadi said consumers should refuse to pay for the stickers because they were no longer supported by the administration.

Sjafei said the ministry would write to the consortium that it should abide by the terms of the license.

The ministry would write to PT PLN, the state-owned electricity company, and PT Telkom, the state-owned telephone company, that they should provide stickers to those who pay the contribution.

The two companies have charged the donation on bills without giving the stickers to their customers. (03)