Savings scheme for sport not dead yet: Hayono
Savings scheme for sport not dead yet: Hayono
JAKARTA (JP): State Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports
Hayono Isman, who is being accused of condoning gambling in
raising funds for sports development, yesterday said his plan for
a savings scheme has not been abandoned completely.
Hayono however acknowledged that the scheme, known as
Tapornas, has been widely discredited by bad publicity even
before the study on it was completed.
"Tapornas is beaten black and blue before the concept was even
finalized," he said during a hearing with House of
Representatives' Commission IX, which covers sport,Antara
reported.
The plan has earned a bad name because of the publicity, and
so it might now be difficult to launch even if it was finally
approved, he said, adding that he had originally hoped the saving
scheme could be launched in 1996.
Tapornas was shot down from virtually all sides within a
matter of days after the minister disclosed the plan last month.
Critics said that like the previous SDSB lottery, Tapornas was
bound to encourage gambling.
SDSB, which generated funds for the development of the
country's sports, was scrapped in 1993 after strong protests from
religious leaders.
Government officials have stressed that Tapornas is not a
replacement of SDSB. It is a savings scheme with a low interest
rate but big prizes drawn at regular intervals.
More recently, Hayono came under criticism following
disclosures that he condoned a number of private companies to run
amusement centers in Central Java on the government's behalf in
return for royalties, which would be used to finance sports. The
critics said that video games at the amusement centers have been
widely used for gambling purposes.
The Antara report did not say whether this latest accusation
was raised during the House hearing yesterday.
Hayono acknowledged that the saving scheme could be turned
into a gambling scheme, but added that almost anything could also
be manipulated the same way.
"A soccer game could also generate gambling," he said.
He explained that the government has agreed to continue
exploring the possibility of launching the savings scheme despite
the criticisms it has generated over the past month.
He added that his office is putting together a team to study
the proposal with the House and the Islamic and Christian
religious councils, the banking community and other
organizations.
The minister also suggested that it was now time to consider
increasing the allocation of the government budget for the
development of sports.
The Rp 75 billion allocated out of the government's budget for
a period of five years is far too small, he said, adding that he
had repeatedly requested Rp 200 billion but was always rejected.
(emb)