Strange things afoot in KONI election

Strange things afoot in KONI election

Musthofid, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The three-day congress of the National Sports Council (KONI)
began on Tuesday with the council chairmanship candidacy becoming
a hot issue outside the meeting hall.

"Do we still need permission from our superiors when we take
on dual functions in this era? That should be out of fashion by
now," Hari Sabarno, Minister of Home Affairs, said after his
presentation before the congress participants.

"Go ahead if they want to run the race. That matter should be
the domain of the election committee and the candidates
themselves," Hari said.

The minister was commenting on Jakarta Governor Sutiyoso's
unilateral decision to campaign for the chairmanship without
approval from his superiors -- specifically President Megawati
Soekarnorputri or the home affairs minister.

While he encouraged Sutiyoso to proceed, Hari, though,
conceded that the Jakarta Governor had never applied for approval
from the home minister's office.

"Sutiyoso has not yet asked for approval from me nor from the
president," Hari said.

Sutiyoso is one of seven names standing in the race to succeed
Wismoyo Arismunandar as the KONI chairman for the next four-year
term.

However, Rudolf Warouw, a member of the seven-strong screening
team, said of the seven only three had qualified with regard to
the requirements.

The candidacy requires at least 10 supporters, and for
candidates who currently hold political office, a letter of
endorsement from their superiors.

The "qualified" three are Arie Sudewo, transportation minister
Agum Gumelar and Luhut Binsar Panjaitan.

The other four are Iskandar Zulkarnain, legislator Oesman
Sapta Odang, Andhy Gani Nena Wea and Sutiyoso.

Like Sutiyoso, the others had fallen short of either obtaining
a sufficient number of backers or getting their superiors'
approval.

The race had initially saw ten names but Rita Subowo, Indra
Djati Sidi and Toho Cholik Mutohir decided to quit before the
congress began.

Warouw, who is also the secretary-general of the outgoing
board, said that candidacy would be discussed during a commission
meeting before being brought forward to the plenary session on
Wednesday.

"Let the plenary meeting decide which of the candidates are
eligible to carry on and stand in the election at the end of the
congress," he said.

The day before, Joko Purnomo, a failed candidate in the 1997
session, slammed the "permit" requirement as baseless, suggesting
all seven candidates be given equal chance to deliver their
vision before the convention.

The opening day of the congress allowed a presentation by the
national education office, the home affairs ministry and a number
of government's officials.

Meanwhile, the congress committee has re-scheduled the planned
presentation over the sports agenda for the 2003-2007. Arie
Sudewo, who is the deputy chairman of the outgoing board, had
been scheduled to be present the topic, but due to protests from
the candidates he will be replaced.