Rachmadi elected Percasi chairman

Rachmadi elected Percasi chairman

JAKARTA (JP): Businessman Bambang Rachmadi was chosen by
acclamation as chairman of the Indonesian Chess Federation
(Percasi) on Sunday.

The federation's plenary meeting, begun on Saturday, chose
Rachmadi to lead Percasi in the 1999-2003 period. He succeeds
Minister/State Secretary Akbar Tandjung. Akbar is also chairman
of the Golkar party.

Rachmadi is currently president of the McDonald's fast food
franchise. He was formerly director at Bank Duta and president of
Bank Panin.

Rachmadi was given one month to select officials for the
federation. Machnan Kamaluddin and Hendry Djamals are among those
on the board.

"I will give all my time for the development of chess in the
country," Rachmadi said, as quoted by Antara.

His ambition is to create world class chess players. He
admitted that this could not be achieved without the cooperation
of the federation's members.

"I am confident that we can create a world chess champion from
Indonesia, as the country has players with potential. Now let us
prove that we can achieve this target," Rachmadi said.

Rachmadi disagreed with suggestions that a lot of money is
required to develop chess. "I don't see why we need much funding
for chess. What we should concentrate on is improving our
players."

Rachmadi's nomination as Percasi chairman was welcomed by
several regional offices of the federation, such as Maluku, East
Java, Jambi, South Kalimantan and South Sulawesi.

Alfa Budiman from South Sulawesi praised Bambang as being
"professional and dedicated".

"Bambang always shows his confidence that chess will progress
well and he aims to prove it in the coming four years," Alfa
said.

Meanwhile, about 300 chess players from 27 provinces in the
country are currently competing in the national championship at
the Utut Adianto chess school in Bekasi.

The championship, held until April 16, is attended by top
players like international masters Salor Sitanggang and Bobby
Kurniawan, Fide master Hamdani and two young stars Susanto
Megaranto and Taufik Halay.

National Sports Council chairman Wismoyo Arismunandar was at
the school on Saturday to open the championship.

In his brief speech, Wismoyo expressed his hopes that the
school could turn out good chess players.

"I hope that we can create players of the caliber of Utut, and
I am confident that the school can do it," Wismoyo said. (lnt)