Legislator defies KONI candidacy requirements
Legislator defies KONI candidacy requirements
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Oesman Sapta Odang, one of seven candidates vying for the top
job at the National Sports Council (KONI) during next week's
election, said he was astounded at being told he had to obtain a
presidential endorsement for his candidacy.
"I'm shocked at the statement from the screening team that I
have fallen short of meeting the requirements, one being the
permit from the president," Oesman said in Jakarta on Friday.
"Are they aware about what they say?" Oesman, a People's
Consultative Assembly (MPR) deputy speaker, queried.
His media briefing at the Century Hotel followed a statement
over the issue from the screening team, which consists seven
sports representatives.
But the hotel businessman remained defiant.
"As a businessman in this case, I'm dependent of no one. So I
don't need a permit from anyone. As deputy speaker of the MPR, no
patronage should be higher ... It's absolutely incorrect that I
need a permit from the president," he said.
Others contesting the chairpersonship during the three-day
congress next week include KONI deputy chairman Arie Sudewo,
national soccer chairman Agum Gumelar, karate-do chairman Luhut
Panjaitan, Jakarta Governor Sutiyoso, Iskandar Zulkarnain and
Octavianus Andy Gani Nena.
In regard to a lack of support from sports' organizations or
KONI's provincial chapters for his bid, Oesman said a candidacy
should not be determined by the number of backers.
"To join the race in the election, it's enough to have one
organization in support. It's the participants of the congress
who will assess the eligibility of one's candidacy after they
hear the candidates' elaboration about their mission and vision,"
he said.
Oesman has been backed so far only by the Indonesian Wushu
Association, while the screening team, which is popularly known
as Team of Seven, requires a minimum number of ten backers, be
they KONI-affiliated sports organizations or KONI's provincial
chapters.
Meanwhile, the national contract bridge governing body Gabbsi
reiterated its support for Luhut Panjaitan. The body's deputy
secretary-general Bert Toar Polii said the former minister of
trade and industry was the right person to lead KONI for the next
four-year term given that his vision was in accord with its own
vision for the future of sport in Indonesia.
"We would not lend our support to him if we did not know him
well, including his policies on how to develop sports
nationally," Bert said as quoted by Antara. Gabbsi is one of
Luhut's 13 backers to date.