New fund-raising program for sports prepared

New fund-raising program for sports prepared

JAKARTA (JP): The office of the state minister of youth
affairs and sports is looking into launching a fund-raising
program, involving distribution of coupons and allocation of
prizes, to support sports development nationwide.

State Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Mahadi Sinambela
said in a hearing with House of Representatives Commission VI,
with jurisdiction including sports, that the Sports and Humanity
program (OKE) was being prepared by his office.

Sinambela said the Indonesian Council of Ulemas (MUI)
recommended the program, which was jointly coordinated with the
former ministry of social services and a private institution, PT
Provicia.

"We are still working on the program. I have yet to study OKE.
If many people are against this program, we will not proceed. We
need a program which could support sports development," he said
after the hearing.

OKE would operate with members of the public receiving coupons
when they shop at designated supermarkets.

"Customers can pick their favorite sports as outlined in the
coupons. They will get prize money if they win, but I don't know
the amount," Sinambela said.

The minister's secretary, J.B. Wirawan, told the hearing that
the program was presented to the former members of Commission VI,
Commission VII and MUI. The state minister's office will promote
the program to the Indonesian Consumers Foundation (YLKI).

"We want related institutions to help us in evaluating that
the contents of the program do not include gambling and will not
dupe the public. We are cautious about not repeating past
mistakes. We have received recommendations from Commission VI,
Commission VII and MUI," Wirawan said.

Then minister of social services Yustika S. Baharsyah bowed to
public pressure to cancel her ministerial decree in April which
permitted PT Lintas Artha Raya to launch its Analisa Olahraga
(Sports Analysis) television quiz.

The minister's decision to issue the decree was supported by
the Jakarta chapter of MUI, which said the quiz adhered to the
Islamic law on trading.

MUI's headquarters annulled the Jakarta branch's
recommendation, saying the venture included usury, which is
unlawful in Islam.

Sinambela also told the hearing that he would consider the
members' idea to transfer management of Gelora Senayan from the
State Secretariat to his office. The Gelora Senayan Management
Board (BPGS) is responsible to the president.

"I can understand this idea, but I will discuss it first with
the government," he said. (ivy)