Indonesia's SEAG medalists yet to receive cash bonuses

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.