Restless chapters push for Chairul's ouster

Restless chapters push for Chairul's ouster

Eva C. Komandjaja, Jakarta

Several provincial chapters of the Indonesian Badminton
Association (PBSI) are demanding the immediate resignation of
chairman Chairul Tanjung and have asked for an extraordinary
meeting to be held within the next two weeks.

A newly established working group, comprising representatives
from five provincial chapters, announced here on Friday an
extraordinary meeting would be held on June 28 in Yogyakarta to
find a acceptable replacement for Chairul.

The working group members are Yacob Rusdianto of the East Java
chapter, Mustofa Djide of South Sulawesi, Icuk Sugiarto of
Jakarta, Johannes IW of North Sumatra and Koesdarto Pramono of
Yogyakarta.

"According to PBSI statutes, an extraordinary meeting is
necessary as a formal forum when the chairman is to be replaced,"
the head of the working group, Koesdarto, said here on Friday.

As many as 25 provincial chapters have called for Chairul's
resignation on the grounds that he has failed to run the
association properly, resulting in a breakdown in the sport's
development.

Chairul, who took over the post in 2001, has signaled that he
is willing to step down, but has said he will only resign after
an acceptable replacement has been found.

While waiting for his replacement to be selected, Chairul said
he would remain in his post until after the Athens Olympics in
August.

However, with the restless chapters having set the date for an
extraordinary meeting, it may not be possible for Chairul to
maintain his position until the Olympics.

Koesdarto said the working group was expecting an official
letter from Chairul offering his resignation in order to allow
the extraordinary meeting to proceed.

"What we have received so far is a notification letter about
his plan to resign. That is not enough," he said.

Koesdarto also brushed aside the possibility that the
extraordinary meeting would fail to take place because organizers
would be unable to get two-thirds of the chapters to attend, as
required in the organization's statutes.

"According to the rules, if the chairman decides to resign it
is necessary to hold a meeting, but the two-thirds rule is not
necessary," Koesdarto said.

Former PBSI chairman Try Sutrisno has offered to mediate in
the dispute.