Sports bill aims to link KONI with government

JAKARTA (JP): The sports bill now being scrutinized by the House of Representatives suggests that the Indonesian Sports Council (KONI) come under the government's auspices for the benefit of the country's future sporting development.

A House member actively involved in the drafting of the bill, Ferdiansyah, said KONI needs a direct link with the government "to allow the organization to play a greater role in sports management."

The change in KONI's status, Ferdiansyah said, would enable the DPR to act as the controlling and oversight body, especially when proposals for financial support for KONI to be provided by the State Budget were successful.

"With KONI being a non-governmental organization, we have no legal basis for supervising it," he told The Jakarta Post recently.

After the liquidation of the sports and youth affairs' ministry, KONI had been expected to optimize its role. However, Ferdiansyah, a House legislator representing the Golkar Party, saw this expectation as being excessive.

The financial problems which have always overshadowed KONI have now become a matter of national concern and are being discussed by DPR members.

The financial aspect is one of the items covered by the sports bill being drafted by House Commission VI, which oversees religious, human resources and sports affairs.

Ferdiansyah called for the government's intervention through a regulation to apportion funding from KONI from the State Budget.

With such a budget allocation, KONI would not be under such a great financial strain, especially when it came to preparing for regional events such as the Southeast Asian Games and Asian Games.

In preparation for the 2001 Kuala Lumpur SEA Games, which are scheduled for Sept. 8 to Sept. 17, KONI needs Rp 67 billion, but the amount raised so far is far from sufficient and this has affected athletes' training.

The draft, which outlines the shared responsibilities of government and society, sports institutions, the rights and obligations of society, rewards and sanctions, and funding for sports is expected to be completed by the end of this year.

Ferdiansyah pointed out that the discussion was aimed at accommodating inputs from the sporting community, including KONI, sports experts and sports journalists.

In response to the bill, noted sports observer Mangombar Ferdinand Siregar agreed to the need for the government to be more heedful of the nation's sporting development.

"The current situation is favorable enough to enable the government to fulfill its responsibilities even more as regards sports' development," Siregar told the Post.

But he did not see the need for KONI to change its status from a non-governmental organization into a body which was structurally linked to the government.

"The DPR would still be justified in supervising KONI, even if the latter remained a non-governmental organization," he said.

He said the responsibility could be properly reflected in the government's concern for those involved in sport, including not only the athletes but also the officials.

"Say we are given 50 percent off the cost of flights or no tax on the importation of sports equipment."

He said that in showing appreciation for successful athletes, the government should not be satisfied with merely paying bonuses.

"With Rp 500 million, what will an athlete do. Nothing. It's only a flash in the pan. They use it up and then it's finished," he said referring to the cash bonuses Indonesia's gold medalists received at the Sydney 2000 Olympics.

"I hope the athletes are given the bait instead of fish. For instance, they should be given the opportunity to continue their academic studies, attending university, and so forth," he said.

Siregar agreed to the scheme for financial support for sports to be funded by the State Budget, although he hoped to see KONI become a self-financing organization.

"As long as it doesn't burden the government, that's OK. However, the most important thing is that KONI must become a better fund-raiser.

"KONI should be able to promote sports. Badminton, soccer are partly commercial. The others must be able to follow their example.

"In this respect again, the government is expected to show its concern by becoming a mediator between KONI and business circles." (01)