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)