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)