KONI accuses House of being apathetic on sports development

KONI accuses House of being apathetic on sports development

Musthofid, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The National Sports Council (KONI) has accused the House of
Representatives (DPR) of not caring about sports development.

KONI official I.G.K Manila said the sports bill submitted to
the House in October last year was facing a potentially prolonged
delay as it was not included on the agenda for the DPR's next
sitting session.

But legislator Ferdiansyah of Commission VI, which supervises
education and sports affairs, said the bill was still being
discussed by the commission and was awaiting a consensus among
the House factions.

"Having approved the sports bill for hearing by the House, the
steering committee leaves it to Commission VI to deliberate,"
Ferdiansyah, of the Golkar faction, told The Jakarta Post.

"Hopefully, we'll be able to come to a conclusion by November
when the next sitting session of the House opens," he said.

If endorsed during the sitting the law will be passed to the
president for approval. "We hope that a sports law will be
enacted early next year," Ferdiansyah said.

"KONI must have been misinformed. People might not be
monitoring the proceedings closely," he said.

Meanwhile, during a media gathering at KONI headquarters in
Central Jakarta on Thursday, Manila, accompanied by KONI chairman
Wismoyo Arismunandar, said that of about 200 draft bills, the DPR
had set aside 113 for discussion during the next sitting session.

"Deplorably, sports is not among them," he said. "Why is the
sports bill not included?"

Manila replied: "I don't know. They may consider it
unimportant."

"All factions have agreed on the importance of the sports law,
but why don't they push the law through as soon as possible?"
Manila said.

The need for the formation of a sports bill has been discussed
since 2000.

KONI, responsible for sports' development in the country,
along with the Education Ministry, has since been campaigning
nationwide.

"With no sports law, we are in for uncertainties," Wismoyo
lamented.

Discussions with various sectors of the community, including
through television and radio, and consultation with sporting
bodies throughout Indonesia have been conducted to gather
feedback on the bill.

"We have pinpointed 24 items that are urgently needed for us
to spur sports' development," Manila, also a member of the
consultation team, said.

The team comprised officials from KONI and the Ministry of
National Education.

Manila said an area that needed immediate attention related to
funding, such as for large multi-sports events like the upcoming
2002 Asian Games in Busan, South Korea.

Around 100 Indonesian athletes are expected to take place in
The Asian Games from Sept. 29 to Oct. 14.