SEAG Consortium told to report to public
JAKARTA (JP): State Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Hayono Isman yesterday urged the 19th SEA Games Consortium to give transparent reports to the public about the fund raising it did to finance the biennial event last year.
Hayono said after meeting consortium members at his office that consortium executive director Bambang Yoga Soegama would hold a press conference today about the fund raising, accompanied by Klynveld Peat Marwick Goerdeler public accountants.
"I hope all departments give transparent reports to the consortium because we have to be responsible to the public. Don't be sloppy because it could give the government a bad name," the minister said.
The consortium promised to explain its audited financial report on Dec. 31 but delayed it until mid-January, and again until today.
The consortium raised funds for the Games by selling stickers to users of telephones (including cellular phone), water and electricity, and to airplane passengers and car owners who extended their driver's licenses or vehicle registration documents.
Fund raising, based on a Ministry of Social Services instruction, ended on Dec. 31, 1997.
Hayono said: "Don't let any there be any dishonesty in the fund raising. If the money from sticker sales didn't go to the consortium, it has to find out where the money went. The government can sue the consortium if it is proved to have defied a ministerial instruction."
"I have received its temporary reports and I'll report on them to the President before the hearing with House Commission VII for youth affairs and sports on Monday," Hayono said.
"Bapak President will offer solutions to the problems faced by the consortium, which had to add billions because it failed to raise its targeted amount," he said, declining to mention how much was added.
The consortium had to provide Rp 105 billion (US$42 million, at the old rate of Rp 2,500) to finance the Indonesian contingent and the staging of the event. It expected to raise Rp 35 billion from sticker sales but apparently only raised Rp 20.55 billion.
Separately, the National Sports Council's 13th Asian Games task force chairman, Muhammad Hindarto, said the council had also asked Badminton Association of Indonesia and All Indonesian Soccer Federation officials to prepare answers to questions from House commission members for Monday's meeting.
Task force member Mangombar Ferdinand Siregar said there were questions on national badminton players' performances, which have been poorer than usual in international events recently.
They also have questions for the soccer body about whether it will compete in the Asiad and about its decentralized training program, which may take place in Surabaya.
Council chairman Wismoyo Arismunandar said a meeting between council officials and Minister of Home Affairs Moch. Yogie S.M. yesterday morning brought good results as the minister supported the council's program to have four provinces stage long-term training for the Asiad.
"The council will detail the roles of the four provinces -- Jakarta, West Java, Central Java and East Java -- in the training. Their participation really helps the council prepare our athletes for the Asiad," he said.
"I also urge other provinces to follow in their footsteps and start helping the council," he added. (yan)