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.