KONI under fire over unpaid SEA Games debts

KONI under fire over unpaid SEA Games debts

JAKARTA (JP): The National Sports Council (KONI) came under
further criticism on Tuesday for its lenient stance toward the
19th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games underwriting consortium which
has yet to pay back its debts.

Secretary-general of the Indonesian Taekwondo Association,
Ahmad Zarkasih Hamid, told participants of the KONI congress that
the absence of stern measures from the council could cost it
billions of rupiah worth of sports funds.

"We could have used the money to develop sports. KONI must
recommend that the matter be resolved either by the outgoing or
new executive board. The recommendation must also set a deadline
for the consortium to settle its debts," he said.

The consortium, chaired by a son of former president Soeharto,
Bambang Trihatmodjo, owes about Rp 46 billion (US$5.2 million) to
the KONI, the Gelora Senayan management board, the Jatiluhur
reservoir authorities and hotels which accommodated participants
of the SEA Games here in October 1997.

The consortium also has to repay Rp 35 billion in
reforestation funds it borrowed from the government.

In its audit report, the consortium declared Rp 68 billion in
financial losses.

Zarkasih said the consortium's bankruptcy was not a good
enough reason for KONI to leave settlement of the debt hanging in
the balance.

"The consortium must pay off the debts. KONI must urge them to
pay as soon as possible," he said.

The consortium told the State Minister of Youth Affairs and
Sports Agung Laksono in October last year that it would agree to
a legal settlement if it failed to repay its debts.

Zarkasih said he was told by some officials of SEA Games
participating countries recently that they had not received
reimbursement of their allowances and ticket fares.

"It's really embarrassing. Although it was the consortium's
responsibility, KONI must also take the blame," he said.

A KONI official who requested anonymity said that he had spent
about Rp 200 million in paying for the visiting delegates'
allowances during the SEA Games.

"I thought the consortium would pay back the money but up to
the present I have received nothing. I guess I'll have to sell my
house," he said.

Chairman

Meanwhile, support mounts for KONI incumbent chairman Wismoyo
Arismunandar to win a second four-year term. There is apparently
a minor hurdle on his way to the top job as the chairman of the
Indonesian Rockclimbing Federation, Hendrikus, insisted on
Tuesday he would challenge Wismoyo in Wednesday's election.

"It's unfair if we only have one candidate for KONI's top
post," Hendrikus said.

Wismoyo's real contender, Djoko Pramono, withdrew from the
race even before the congress began on Monday.

Executive chairman of KONI West Sumatra office, Fihir
Abdullah, said lack of funds would be a permanent problem for
provinces wanting to groom local sporting talent.

To save money, Fihir said West Sumatra has put four sports at
the top of its priority list. They are the pencak silat martial
arts form, track and field, weightlifting and boxing.

Secretary of the East Timor sports council, IM Ndoen, said
that the absence of quality coaches had added to the
organization's financial headache.

"We can only hope to receive the government's annual aid worth
Rp 348 million to groom athletes in the province. It's difficult
to involve the private sector in East Timor because there only a
few businesspeople there," he said.

Ndoen said that the chapter planned to use some of the
government funds to send as many coaches as possible on courses
to improve their knowledge. (yan)