Govt reproaches Games sticker sponsors

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)