SEAG consortium told to give explanation on sticker fees

JAKARTA (JP): State Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Hayono Isman has told the 19th SEA Games (SEAG) consortium, chaired by President Soeharto's son Bambang Trihatmodjo, to give the public a clear explanation on Games sticker fees.

"The public -- who have contributed money through electricity, water and telephone bills -- need to know how it is being spent," Hayono said yesterday.

"Wismoyo Arismunandar (the National Sports Council's chairman) and representatives of the consortium will have to explain the fees to the public," he said.

The consortium, which expects to raise Rp 35 billion (US$14.6 million) from sticker fees, is collecting the fees in cooperation with state electricity company PLN, state water company PAM, state telecommunications company Telkom and airports and hotels across the country.

The consortium will distribute 17,750,000 stickers to record that Games fees have been paid. These include 16,000,000 stickers for Rp 1,000 (US$42 cents) fees, and 1,750,000 stickers for fees between Rp 2,500 and Rp 50,000.

Hayono said the press was always misinforming the public on the fees because officials had not clearly explained them.

"The consortium must say where it distributes the stickers. Because as far as I know, distribution is only in big cities," he said.

"Only the middle and upper classes are encouraged to pay the sticker fees," he added.

Hayono urged the consortium to discuss any sticker fee problems with the Indonesian Consumers Foundation (YLKI).

"There's nothing to hide in the Games preparations. People must communicate their problems. How can the YLKI support the consortium if it doesn't know the Games programs," he said.

Some people have contacted the foundation to protest the sticker fees on their electricity bills which they say are unaffordable.

Antara reported that the Indonesian Hotel and Restaurants Association East Java chapter objected to the fees because patrons had to pay between Rp 5,000 and Rp 10,000.

East Java must collect Rp 5 billion from hotel and restaurant patrons and Rp 6.2 billion from PLN and Telkom costumers between March 11 and June 11.

Hayono said Brunei Darussalam, which had intended to host the 19th SEA Games, was ready to host the next Games because it had recently built a sports complex.

"The complex is much bigger and cleaner. It meets international standards. I think it's being well managed," he said.

Brunei has said it can only host between 16 and 20 of the Games' events. (yan)