Minister urges public not to condemn lottery
JAKARTA (JP): State Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Agung Laksono called on the public yesterday not to condemn prematurely a new fund-raising program for sports.
Agung regretted that people were being quick to oppose the scheme despite the fact that it was still being studied by the government.
"This will be an answer to our search for the quickest way to raise the funds for sports apart from the state budget. We haven't found any other method unanimously accepted by the public," Agung said after a meeting with President B.J. Habibie.
Agung, accompanied by National Sports Council chairman Wismoyo Arismunandar and East Java Governor Basofi Sudirman, reported to Habibie on the ongoing preparations for National Sports Day in Surabaya in September.
The East Java capital will also host the 2000 National Games.
the controversy surrounding the fund-raising program called the Sports Awareness Campaign has loomed large, with religious leaders concerned about its potential to encourage gambling.
A wave of popular opposition forced the government to terminate a national lottery organized to raise funds for sports in 1994.
Agung said the idea to raise funds from cigarette taxes proposed by his predecessor Hayono Isman was impossible because it would affect the state budget. The revised budget for the 1998/1999 fiscal year was endorsed by the House of Representatives last week.
Under the new lottery scheme, Rp 100 billion (US$7 million) is expected to be raised annually from coupons which are sold for Rp 5,000 each. The coupons will be available at all branches of the state bank BRI.
Half of the funds will be used to provide prizes, and only 30 percent will go to the sports community.
Coupons will also serve as tickets for sports events for one year. Buyers will win prizes if their coupon contains three identical sports logos. Buyers will reveal the logos by scratching on special panels on the coupons.
Not gambling
Agung dismissed allegations that the proposal would tempt people to gamble.
"We have to find a consensus about what constitutes gambling. It is most unlikely that the planned scheme will encourage gambling because there are no numbers contained in the coupons. There is no lucky draw either," Agung said.
But Agung called on the National Sports Council to seek the approval of the Indonesian Ulemas Council and other religious figures, the House of Representatives and the Indonesian Consumers Foundation.
"If all the parties agree, than I will support the program," said Agung.
The ulemas council's deputy chairman, Ali Yafie, said over the weekend the proposed fund-raising campaign for sports was a carbon copy of the now defunct lottery. Gambling is unlawful according to Islamic teaching.
The East Java branch of the Nahdlatul Ulama Moslem organization is the latest to oppose the proposal.
Chairman Imron Hamzah, said yesterday in Surabaya the program would still tempt people to gamble.
"People may seek prizes when they buy the coupons. Nonsporting enthusiasts might do that," Imron said, as quoted by Antara.
Wismoyo Arismunandar, said in Cipayung, West Java, that he would discuss changes in the proposal with its promoter, Dali Taher, and the Ministry of Social Services' inspector general Adang Ruchiatna.
"We are considering raising the portion of revenue allocated for sports development from a mere 30 percent," Wismoyo said. (yan/prb)