Sports council not deterred from fund raising program

JAKARTA (JP): The National Sports Council (KONI) said it would stick to its plan to launch its fund-raising program, the People's Fund for Sports (Damura), despite statements from the Indonesian Consumers Foundation (YLKI) and the Indonesian Ulemas Council (MUI).

KONI official in charge of media and promotion, Enny Hardjanto, said during the sports council's national plenary meeting on Tuesday that the program had followed the guidance of MUI and would not encourage gambling.

"We have received a letter from MUI saying that based on their edict commission meetings of Dec. 30, 1999 and Jan. 9, 2000, Damura has fulfilled MUI's guidance for a fund-raising system," she said.

MUI acting chairman, Amidhan, said on Monday that the council had never issued an edict on a program.

Enny also said House of Representatives Commission VI for human resources and religious affairs had also approved Damura.

"In a letter numbered 6/Komisi VI/I/1999 dated Sept. 3, 1999, the House considers Damura as the following. The ongoing law meets the requirement of MUI, gets permission from the Ministry of Social Services and does not encourage gambling," she said.

Enny said both YLKI and MUI never issued recommendation letters on the fund-raising program, but only supervised it for the sake of the people.

KONI announced on Friday that it had signed a memorandum of understanding with PT 3M on the fund-raising program for sports development.

PT 3M will commence selling its 10 million coupons in April. A Rp 5,000 (70 U.S. cents) coupon comprises two parts; the first is an insurance policy in cooperation with state-owned PT Asuransi Jasindo worth up to Rp 2.5 million, and the second is a scratch and win, which gives consumers a chance to win cash prizes from Rp 5,000 to Rp 25 million.

KONI will only get 6.5 percent from each coupon sold.

KONI's plan received mixed reactions from its members.

Indonesian Wushu Association (WI) chairman Mediteransyah said the percentage for sports development was meaningless.

"The fund-raising program must give a bigger percentage for sports development. Ideally, 40 percent is for prizes, 15 percent for the operator and 35 percent for sports development," he said.

KONI West Java chapter chairman, Dedem Ruchlia, said he would discuss the program with other officials and the city council before approving Damura in his province.

Dedem acknowledged that the program would be useful to help national sports development but he said city councilors would decide if it would encourage gambling.

"We will discuss this matter with the council's Commission E for social welfare. They would know better whether the program was another form of gambling or not. The local authorities and councilors will recommend whether the program can be applied in other provinces," said Dedem, who is also the deputy governor for West Java.

KONI Central Java chapter chairman, Djoko Sudantoko, also shared Dedem's view, saying that the program's organizer could cooperate with local sports fund-raising foundation (Yadora).

"We can rely solely on the central government to help fund national sports, but we should start to encourage people to do so. Damura is a positive idea. I will discuss it with other officials to seek their opinion," he said, adding that Yadora was set up by local businessmen to finance sports in the province. (ivy/yan)