Sutiyoso threatens to banish athletic 'defectors'
Eva C. Komandjaja, The Jakarta Post/Palembang
Despite Jakarta's formidable run at the underway National Games (PON), Jakarta Governor Sutiyoso could not hide his irritation over other teams' successes in particular sports that he believed had come at his administration's cost.
Sutiyoso said there were many athletes who held Jakarta ID cards but refused to play for the capital's team.
"They instead opted to represent other provinces as they were lured away by promises of huge bonuses," Sutiyoso said after the medals ceremony in the karate competition at the Ranau Gymnastic Hall here on Saturday.
"I am considering cancelling their ID cards as they have shown they are willing to take money to support other provinces," he said.
Swimmer Albert C. Sutanto, who was among this year's Indonesia's Athens Olympic team, his brother Felix C. Sutanto and sister Margaretha Sutanto are currently representing the National Games host South Sumatra, although they originally come from Jakarta.
They reside in Jakarta and all have Jakarta ID cards. Spearheaded by the siblings, South Sumatra won five gold medals in the swimming events compared to Jakarta's three.
Young swimmer Akbar Nasution, who has won eight gold medals for Jambi, also holds a Jakarta ID.
"By this decision (the threat of ID cancellation), I want to make Jakarta's athletes feel proud in playing for Jakarta in this PON," he said, adding that he would provide bigger bonuses to Jakarta athletes than offered by other provinces.
"I have heard East Java will give Rp 55 million (US$6,111) to its gold medalists... Jakarta will give a bigger bonus than that but we have yet to decide the amount," Sutiyoso said.
Jakarta had been the dominant force in the quadrennial national sporting showcase until the 2000 Games when host East Java toppled it from its perch.
At the current Games, which run from Sept. 2 to 14, Jakarta is leading the medal table. As of 2.45 p.m. on Saturday, it topped the medal tally with a 98 gold medal haul, far ahead of its rivals West Java and defending champion East Java, which followed in second and third with 59 and 53 golds respectively.
Despite the troublesome defections, Sutiyoso was in good spirits about the prospects for Jakarta of regaining its crown.
"I think we have made the right step by putting aside a total of Rp 150 billion from the city budget for sports development programs in Jakarta," he said.
However, Sutiyoso was not pleased about all Jakarta's results.
In table tennis, Jakarta ended up empty handed with East Java's athletes making a clean sweep of the golds on offer.
The meager gold collection in swimming had also made him fume.
"We will evaluate these (losing) athletes after this PON. We will ask questions about the athletes' recruitment process. The coaches could have submitted false reports about the athletes and their assessments of their medal prospects," Sutiyoso said.