Sutiyoso not serious about KONI race

Sutiyoso not serious about KONI race

Novan Iman Santosa, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Despite being nominated as one of the candidates to lead the
National Sports Council (KONI), Governor Sutiyoso took a
wait-and-see stance, saying he would like to focus on his duties
in running the capital city first.

KONI's Jakarta chapter nominated Sutiyoso on Thursday, saying
that he had been a successful administrator in the three sports
for which he had been responsible.

"I think I must concentrate on my duties as governor first
instead of looking for another post. It would be better if the
sporting community could find another candidate," he said at City
Hall on Friday.

"Besides, my achievements in two sports do not automatically
mean that I am suitable to lead KONI."

Sutiyoso is currently chairman of the Indonesian Basketball
Association (Perbasi) and former chairman of the Indonesian
Target Shooting and Hunting Association (Perbakin). He is also
the patron of Jakarta-based Persija soccer club.

Indonesian women shooters contributed three gold medals, while
the men's basketball team won the silver medal at the Kuala
Lumpur 2001 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games, losing to the
Philippines in the final.

Meanwhile, Persija grabbed the Indonesian Soccer League title
in the same year after defeating PSM from Makassar, South
Sulawesi.

In his duties as governor, already into his second term,
Sutiyoso faces several major problems, including imminent
flooding threats, riverbank squatter housing, recalcitrant street
vendors and widespread corruption within his administration.

Current chairman Wismoyo Arismunandar will end his term at a
national congress this year, after having been in the driving
seat for two terms. KONI's constitution stipulates that a
chairman can serve a maximum of only two terms.

KONI is slated to hold its congress here from Feb. 24 through
Feb. 27, with participation from its provincial chapters
nationwide, as well as officials from 50 affiliated sports
organizations.

Currently, four names have made public their candidacy or have
been nominated by sporting organizations or KONI provincial
chapters.

Chairman of the Soccer Association of Indonesia (PSSI) Agum
Gumelar is believed to be the strongest contender, considering
his current position as Minister of Transportation.

One of KONI's deputy chairman, Arie Sudewo, is also being
nominated for the position, as well as chairman of the Indonesian
Karate-do Federation (FORKI) Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan.

While three of the candidates, as well as Wismoyo, are retired
Army generals, Indra Djati Sidi is the only one from a civilian
backround.

Indra currently serves as KONI's deputy chairman as well being
a director general at the Ministry of National Education.