KONI gets 31 fund-raising proposals

JAKARTA (JP): The recent cancellation of a plan to raise funds for sports through the sale of coupons has elicited a positive response from the public, a National Sports Council official said yesterday.

Sudharno, who is in charge of planning and budgetary matters at the council, said he had received 31 new fund raising proposals from the public since the government rejected the council's scheme earlier this month.

"I have submitted the proposals to the council's deputy chairman (Arie Sudewo) and he told me he would study them," Sudharno said.

The government said the earlier scheme proposed by the council could tempt people to gamble because of the whopping prize money it offered.

Among those who have submitted proposals were private companies in West Sumatra, West Java, Lampung, South Kalimantan, Bengkulu, East Java, South Sumatra, North Sumatra, Yogyakarta and Jakarta.

"I have recommended that the council pick the proposal which I think is the best," Sudharno said.

PT Elmy Prima Lestari general manager Jimmy Iskandar sent in a proposal suggesting a joint venture between the council, state insurance company PT Asuransi Umum Bumiputeramuda 1967, and state toll road operator PT Jasa Marga.

Jimmy said, as quoted by Sudharno, that the council could get Rp 35 from every ticket purchased by motorists using toll roads throughout the country. With an average of 340 million vehicles passing through toll gates every year, the council would earn nearly Rp 12 billion annually.

Jimmy said that PT Jasa Marga had enjoyed a surplus of Rp 100 on every ticket sold since the government approved a price increase in June 1996.

"For example, the government increased the price of traveling on the city toll road to Rp 2,900, but rounded the price up to Rp 3,000. The difference goes into PT Jasa Marga's coffers," Jimmy said.

Under the draft proposal PT Asuransi Umum Bumiputeramuda and the council would share the difference. The insurance company is included in the joint-venture because motorists using toll roads do not currently have accident insurance. Only passengers on public transport vehicles have insurance cover.

Sudharno said the council would give the proposal top priority in the on-going discussion on how to raise funds for sports.

"Other proposals only go as far as to suggest that the council collect money from the public, but without going into satisfactory detail," Sudharno said. (yan)