KONI set to launch Damura fund raising drive in April

JAKARTA (JP): The National Sports Council (KONI) will launch a fund-raising program called Damura (The People's Fund for Sports) in April by distributing about 10 million coupons nationwide.

KONI's official in charge of media and promotion, Enny Hardjanto, said during a media conference on Friday the council had signed a memorandum of understanding with PT Mutiara Mandala Mahardhika (PT 3M) to manage the distribution of the coupons.

"KONI will get 6.5 percent from each coupon, which cost Rp 5,000 (70 US cents). If we can start selling the coupons in April, we hope to raise enough funds to help our athletes compete in the 2000 Olympics in Sydney in September," she said.

Enny said KONI was satisfied receiving 6.5 percent of each coupon, or Rp 325 per coupon.

"We are lucky there are businesspeople concerned about sports development. PT 3M originally wanted to give us 5 percent of each coupon but we bargained and made the deal," she said.

PT 3M general manager Mutia Farida said 60 percent of the company's total investment, which she declined to reveal, would be used to provide prize money to customers, 20 percent would go toward operational expenses and 20 percent would go to KONI.

A coupon comprises two parts; the first part is an insurance policy coupon in cooperation with state-owned PT Asuransi Jasindo, and the second part is the scratch-off coupon which gives consumers a chance to win cash prizes. The coupons will be distributed in post offices throughout the country.

People who purchase coupons will receive three advantages, according to Mutia. First, the coupon can be used as a Rp 2.5 million insurance policy which is good for a month. Second, if a customer does not claim the insurance policy, they can bring the coupon to a Damura center and join a lucky draw, with winners receiving scholarships. Finally, customers can win money prizes with the second coupon. Customers who match three pictures on the scratch-off coupon will win between Rp 5,000 and Rp 2.5 million.

Mutia said this program was different from the Sports Awareness Campaign (TPO) which was previously rejected. The TPO program was proposed by Mutia's husband, Dali Taher.

"This program is completely different from TPO and we don't have people who were involved in the TPO promotion in my company," she said.

Mutia said the Indonesian Consumers Foundation (YLKI) and the Indonesian Ulemas Council (MUI) both approved her proposal, but she could not say when the two bodies sent her their letters of approval.

"I can't really remember when MUI sent us its approval letter, but YLKI's letter is being processed," she said. "We already have permits from the former ministry of social services and the Jakarta administration."

In August 1998, the government rejected Dali's TPO program, saying that it encouraged people to gamble. The proposal was also opposed by YLKI and MUI.

Enny said such programs were successful in a number of countries, including New Zealand, Turkey, Pakistan, Egypt, South Korea, Taipei, Sri Lanka, Thailand and India.

"In some Islamic countries, fund-raising programs such as Damura are successfully run and receive a good response from the public. That's the reason why KONI approved the proposal," she said.

However, KONI is also studying two other proposals on sports fund-raising: the sports program coupon and the Indonesian Sports Care Society. (yan)