Moslem leaders politely reject Tapornas plan

Moslem leaders politely reject Tapornas plan

JAKARTA (JP): Moslem leaders have politely rejected the
government's plan to introduce a fund-raising scheme to replace
the controversial state lottery, the SDSB, saying the plan smacks
of gambling.

Ali Yafie of the Indonesian Ulemas Council (MUI), Amien Rais
of the Muhammadiyah and Ilyas Ruchiyat of the Nahdlatul Ulama
(NU) have added their voices to those of a group of legislators
in calling for the government to review the plan.

Interviewed separately, the Moslem leaders agreed that the
planned "Tapornas" -- an abbreviation for Tabungan Prestasi Olah
Raga Nasional, or national savings plan for sports' promotion --
appears to contain "elements of gambling".

They told The Jakarta Post they feared the fund-raising scheme
could end up causing as much havoc in society as its predecessor,
the SDSB, did.

"We had our hands full of problems for a long time because of
the SDSB," Ali Yafie said. "We should be more careful now. No one
in their right mind would want to fall into the same hole twice."

Ali said that Admiral (ret.) Sudomo, now chairman of the
Supreme Advisory Board, who helped initiate the state-sponsored
SDSB, had admitted that Tapornas appeared to be similar to the
lottery, which was abolished in 1993 following massive street
demonstrations.

Amien Rais said he was shocked because he "never thought that
a scheme would be introduced to replace the SDSB" and that he
feared "it would only be a reincarnation of SDSB".

"For a country which has been independent for fifty years,
it's ironic that we are never able to raise funds for sports
development through more acceptable means," he said.

"Why do we have to use unconventional ways, which border on
being lotteries?" he asked.

The respected ulema K.H. Ilyas Ruchiyat, who chairs the rule-
making body of the NU, said his organization had yet to meet
specifically to discuss the new scheme. However, he said he
doubted that the new plan was any different from the SDSB.

"Any kind of plan to raise funds for sports development should
be free of elements of gambling," he said. "Otherwise, Moslems
will reject it. Besides, such a scheme would teach the public to
be lazy...and it would not be barokah, blessed by Allah."

State Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Hayono Isman
announced on Wednesday that President Soeharto had approved,
albeit with the proviso that it not be allowed to become a form
of gambling, the plan to introduce Tapornas next year.

"The President has reminded us to examine the plan thoroughly
so that it won't create opportunities for gambling," Hayono said.

Legislators from three factions -- Golkar, the United
Development Party (PPP) and Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) --
in the House of Representatives have expressed opposition to the
plan.

Yesterday, Hayono told the Antara news agency that the plan
was "anti-gambling". "I will ask security personnel to wipe out
gamblers who take advantage of Tapornas," he said.

The saving scheme promises an interest rate of between three
and five percent per year, as well as raffle prizes up to Rp 18
billion (approximately US$8.2 million).

"If people then use the raffle tickets for gambling, then it's
beyond the responsibility of (managers of) Tapornas," Hayono
said.

The government scrapped the SDSB in November 1993 and promised
it would seek "acceptable" means of fund raising to replace it.
The decision was made following waves of protests from the
public, including religious groups.

In addition to the religious objections, there were objections
to the SDSB on the grounds of its reportedly dubious management.
It was also reportedly exempted from audits.

Amien Rais suggested yesterday that the government cancel the
Tapornas plan and, instead, raise funds by imposing on state-
owned companies to yield one percent of their profits to
contribute to the development of sports.

At the time of the closure of the SDSB, Minister of Social
Services Inten Suweno called on the public to propose an
acceptable fund raising scheme because, he said, the government
needed substantial amounts of money to finance the development of
sports and social welfare services. (swe)