Sticker sales for SEA Games far below target

JAKARTA (JP): The amount of money raised so far from SEA Games sticker sales is far short of the Rp 10 billion (US$4.2 million) targeted by the city, an official said yesterday.

The city official in charge of monitoring sticker sales, Bambang Subekti, said that up until May 5 the consortium had raised Rp 1.36 billion from sticker sales.

"The consortium appointed to raise SEA Games funds is having difficulty distributing the stickers," Subekti said.

He said the consortium started raising the funds to finance the Rp 110 billion sports event from April.

Subekti said the consortium has distributed 1.5 million stickers, but so far, only 1.2 million stickers have been sold.

The government issued presidential decree No.5/1996 which appointed the consortium, chaired by President Soeharto's son Bambang Trihatmodjo, to raise funds to help finance the biennial regional event, scheduled for Oct. 11 to Oct. 19.

Minister of Social Services Endang Kusuma Inten Suweno issued another decree on March 11, 1997, which allowed the consortium to raise funds from the public by selling 17,750,000 stickers.

According to the decree, the funds should be raised from March 26 until May 26.

Subekti said the consortium was expecting an extension of the decree, which will expire on May 26.

"By the extension, the consortium is expected to be able to raise the targeted funds," Subekti said, adding the donation was voluntary.

"The donation was based on the regulations, and there's no violation whatsoever," Subekti said.

Sixteen million of the stickers are sold for Rp 1,000 each, 300,000 stickers are sold for Rp 2,500 each, 700,000 stickers are sold for Rp 5,000 each, 400,000 stickers are sold for Rp 10,000 each, 50,000 stickers are sold for Rp 25,000 each and 300,000 stickers are sold for Rp 50,000 each.

The consortium hopes to raise Rp 40 billion from the sticker sales throughout the country. Operational costs, including security ribbons on the stickers, will amount to Rp 5 billion.

The ministerial decree stipulates sticker sales target customers of state-owned electricity company PLN who use more than 900 watts, state-owned water company PAM customers, state- owned Telkom customers, drivers or car owners who want to renew or ask for drivers' licenses, and vehicle registration documents.

Hotels, restaurants, recreational parks and airports have also charged their customers for the stickers.

But many customers have complained to the Indonesian Consumers Foundation about SEA Games donations being added to mobile phone, telephone, water and electricity bills.

The foundation's recent poll to mobile phone owners showed that 98 percent of those questioned objected to paying the donation.

The fund-raising program has caused problems in cases when the "donation" was included on monthly bills, making it difficult for customers to refuse payment. (ste)