Indonesia's SEAG medalists yet to receive cash bonuses

Zakki P. Hakim and Fabiola D. Unidjaja, The Jakarta POst, Jakarta

Indonesian medalists at the 22nd Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Vietnam last December have yet to receive the promised cash bonuses "because the Indonesian Sports Council (KONI) is still waiting for all of the athletes' bank account numbers".

"The funds are there, but the deal is that all athletes and their coaches are to submit their account numbers," KONI secretary general Djohar Arifin announced in his office here on Monday.

He said that KONI had earmarked about Rp 5.6 billion (approximately US$658,823), 70 percent of which will be used as cash bonuses for the athletes who won medals at the SEA Games and the Para Games.

The SEA Games and related Para Games, a sporting event for disabled athletes, were held back-to-back in Vietnam in December.

The two events hosted athletes from 11 countries from the Southeast Asian region. Indonesia won 55 gold, 68 silver and 98 bronze medals at the SEA Games to finish in third place behind Vietnam and Thailand.

Shuttler Alven Yulianto, who was guaranteed Rp 10 million for his gold medal victory in the men's team event and Rp 3 million for his bronze in the singles, told Antara that he had not received one rupiah yet.

Alven said that he only knew that the bonus would be transferred to the athletes' personal savings accounts at Bank Mandiri, which was the main sponsor for the Indonesian squad to Vietnam.

If they do not currently have a Mandiri account, they would be required to open one to receive their bonus.

Djohar said that KONI insisted on handing over the money through bank transfers to avoid any possible delinquent practices of deducting the amount of the bonuses.

"I'm afraid that the athletes might not get as much as they deserve," he explained.

Meanwhile, the National Games, which has been scheduled for Sept. 13-24 in Palembang, South Sumatra, is likely to start a week sooner as the previously outlined dates would clash with the General Elections.

The second round of the direct presidential election is slated for Sept. 20 if a second round is necessary.

South Sumatra Governor Syahrial Oesman has requested the rescheduling, saying that the participating athletes might have difficulties voting.

Djohar said that the rescheduling would not be a problem.