House to set up fact-finding team on SEA Games consortium

JAKARTA (JP): Members of the House of Representatives' Commission VI on Religion and Human Resources said it would be necessary for the House to set up a fact finding team to investigate the 1997 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games underwriting consortium debt.

"If necessary, the House can set up a fact finding team to investigate the problem as we did for the Bank Bali case. The consortium's debts must be brought to court if it has failed to repay them. It's the people's money they used to finance the games. We can't let them go free," said Ismangun Notosapoetro of the Indonesian Democratic Party for Struggle (PDI-P) during a break in the hearing between the commission and state minister of youth affairs and sports, Mahadi Sinambela.

"The legal process needs to proceed. Even if they contributed something by staging the event, it's another problem; we must conduct the legal action."

"The consortium can repay their debts using their assets. If they still can't pay them, we can send them to prison after bringing charges in court."

"The people only need the consortium to be transparent in using their money," Ismangun said.

Another member, Sambas Soerjadi, also from PDI-P, said that the House would need support from NGOs, including the Indonesian Consumers Agency (YLKI).

"We have to cooperate with NGOs, which probably have more details on the case, especially the amount of the debts and the decision letters issued by the government," he said.

However, Sambas said the problem would be brought initially to an internal meeting of the commission.

"Hopefully by the end of this meeting, the commission can bring up something on the case."

The consortium, chaired by former president Soeharto's son, Bambang Trihatmodjo, was appointed to raise the Rp 150 billion fund to stage the biennial event here.

Apparently, after the Games were closed, it still had a total debt of Rp 57.4 billion (US$7.66 million), comprising Rp 44 billion owed to the ministry of forestry's reforestation fund and the interest, Rp 1 billion to Hotel Atlet Century Park, Rp 1 billion to the Gelora Senayan Management Board (BPGS), Rp 8.7 billion to suppliers and Rp 2.7 billion to the National Sports Council (KONI) for the athletes insurance bonus premiums.

Sambas said the case should have been resolved during last House term, but was not. Since it concerns the people's money, the current House members needed to take action.

"If we just let it go, I'm afraid for future multi-sport events, the private sector will run from their responsibilities and ask the government to pay all the costs," he said.

This is a very complicated problem, said Mahadi. "The House may set up a fact finding team, but I think it is the State Secretary that has the authority to investigate the consortium's case," he said.

Speaking on staging multi-sport events in the country, Ismangun made the controversial statement that the National Games (PON) were not necessary anymore for sports development in the country.

"Staging PON is too expensive for Indonesia. Besides, I think PON is useless for athletes' development, as many provinces prefer to buy athletes from outside instead of grooming young athletes. They just want instant success," he said.

"It's better for each sports organization to stage national championships in different provinces. For instance, staging boxing national championships in Irian Jaya, rowing in East Kalimantan and so forth."

Mahadi gave a red light to PON organizers, saying that soccer matches should not be scheduled for the opening and closing ceremonies of PON in Surabaya in June, because it might cause riots between team supporters. (yan)