Sutiyoso revamps PBSI board

Sutiyoso revamps PBSI board

Moch. N. Kurniawan, Jakarta

Newly elected chairman Sutiyoso revamped the new board of the
Indonesian Badminton Association (PBSI), trimming the number of
officials by more than half to 26 from the previous 55.

The number of portfolios in the organization has also been
trimmed from the previous 13 to only five in a move "to seek
efficiency and effectiveness in the running of the organization."

"I want my executive board to be slim, effective and
efficient," Sutiyoso said after the announcement of the board
lineup at City Hall here on Friday,

The new board also reflects Sutiyoso's policy of accommodating
more of the country's former champions during his term, which
runs until 2008.

While the appointment of MF Siregar as the secretary-general
is hailed by many as a good choice, his appointment of Ferrial
Sofyan as his deputy could raise eyebrows as the retired Army
officer has never been known to be closely involved in badminton.

Sutiyoso, who is the Jakarta governor, defended his choice,
saying that Ferrial could be relied on and would be able to
deputize for him.

"As Jakarta governor and the leader of several other
associations, I have only limited time to spare on the PBSI. And
Ferrial will be able to make up for my shortcomings," Sutiyoso
said.

"But I will cut down on my leisure time and give as much time
to the PBSI as possible," he said.

Tan Joe Hok, who became the first Indonesian to win the All
England in 1959, has been appointed to the board as research and
development director.

Eight-time All England champion Rudy Hartono has been given
charge of the organizational and regional development division
while 1983 world champion Icuk Sugiarto is tasked with
supervising national training.

G. Sulistiyanto remains in his foreign relations post, and has
been given the additional task of supervising tournaments and
refereeing.

The funding and sports business division is led by Tri Hatma.

Serian Wijatno has been maintained in his post as the
organization's treasurer.

Sutiyoso, who replaced the forced-out Chairul Tanjung a couple
of weeks ago, pleaded with his aides to be serious about their
work.

He said that he would give them blank resignation letters as a
signal to them that they might as well quit their jobs
immediately if they were unable to work hard.

"These letters are warnings to them to take their work
seriously, particularly during the first six months. Otherwise,
they will be forced to resign and we will seek new more capable
people to fill their shoes," he said.

Meanwhile, discussing his future plans, Icuk, who is the
chairman of the PBSI's Jakarta Chapter, gave details of those who
would take charge of the training center.

Indra Gunawan would coach the men's shuttlers. The women's
shuttlers would be trained by Hendrawan, women's doubles by Atik
Djauhari, men's doubles by Christian Hadinata and mixed doubles
by Richard Mainaky.