Minister calls for Damura to be delayed

JAKARTA (JP): State Minister of Social Affairs Anak Agung Gde Agung urged the National Sports Council (KONI) and PT Mutiara Mandala Mahardhika (PT 3M) to delay their plan to launch the fund raising program Damura (the People's Fund for Sports).

Anak Agung told a media briefing on Tuesday that his office was still waiting for three things: PT 3M's final report on the program, an edict by Indonesia Ulemas Council (MUI) on whether Damura could encourage gambling and the House of Representatives decision on the program.

"We still need to reconsider all aspects of Damura before making a decision. We need to give a chance to PT 3M to clarify some matters in the next few days. After that, we will contact the MUI and the House to discuss the matter," he said.

Anak Agung met KONI chairman Wismoyo Arismunandar, KONI official in charge of media and promotion Enny Hardjanto, Indonesian Consumers Agency (YLKI) officials Agus Pambagio and Tulus Abadi, PT 3M's general manager Mutia Farida and the Atlanta-based printing company Scientific Games International (SGI) regional director and international sales executive, Kevin Delehant.

Anak Agung regretted the absence of MUI officials at the meeting.

"We sent them an invitation and they had confirmed their attendance but they never showed up. I think we will have to stage another meeting in the near future to hear MUI's edict on Damura," he said.

Anak Agung disputed PT 3M's statement saying that the company had received an edict from MUI.

"They have only received guidelines on how to raise funds and to popularize the program. They have yet to receive any edict."

On the contrary, Tulus said PT 3M had received an edict from MUI saying Damura did not encourage gambling.

"PT 3M received the edict in a letter signed by Ibrahim Hussein, chairman of MUI's edict commission. MUI has approved the program. Unfortunately, none of its officials attended today's meeting. I really regret that because the meeting was incomplete without MUI," he said.

"The YLKI will only supervise the way the fund raising program is applied in society."

Anak Agung suggested that PT 3M reduce the percentage of prize money, which is planned to account for 50 percent of the total revenues from the scheme, and distribute more to sports.

"If Damura tickets are sold in aid of sports, the largest percentage must go to sports development. With a 1-in-5 ratio of winning, the chances of winning are too great. Maybe they (PT 3M) can reduce them to 1 in 10," he said.

PT 3M said early this month that the Damura scheme would offer people the chance to win total prize money of Rp 25 billion, in amounts ranging between Rp 5,000 and Rp 25 million.

"We recommend PT 3M reduce the highest prize money from Rp 25 million to only Rp 15 million. The rest of the proposed prize money budget should go to KONI," Anak Agung said.

Tulus from the consumers agency noted the difference in the amount of prize money proposed by PT 3M -- Rp 25 million -- and that decreed by the now defunct ministry of social services September 1999 -- Rp 10 million.

"The proposal and the decree must be rechecked. Fund raising operators must follow the decree."

Both Anak Agung and Tulus hoped the fund raising program would not "touch" the working classes.

"PT 3M's polling reports that middle and upper-class people are potential Damura ticket buyers. We really hope that the tickets won't reach working-class society. However, I see that the data (on this) is not very accurate," Tulus said.

"I'm really concerned about Damura and I hope it will not encourage working-class people to buy the tickets just to win the prizes. If this happens, they will become the donors for sports development," Anak Agung said.

The minister also said that his office would set up a special team to monthly monitor all fund raising programs, including Damura.

"We will have external and internal auditing to check on the programs' applications. We want to create a good image of our office." (yan)