Sutiyoso to go ahead with candidacy
Sutiyoso to go ahead with candidacy
Musthofid, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Jakarta Governor Sutiyoso, who seems undeterred by the obstacles
to his candidacy, signaled that, should he be elected chairman of
the National Sports Council (KONI), he would leave the day-to-day
duties to his designated aides.
"I will appoint someone to team up with Djoko Pramono," he
said on the sidelines of the KONI congress here on Wednesday.
Djoko, who is chairman of the National Diving Association
(POSI), failed in his candidacy in the last election but has
returned to the scene, teaming up with Sutiyoso in the race for
the 2003-2007 term.
"I will set up a new KONI board with reliable members, and I
will fully back them," he said.
Sutiyoso said he was supported by a number of sports
organizations and KONI's provincial chapters. However, according
to the seven-strong screening team, the retired three-star Army
general has failed to meet one candidacy requirement in that he
has not obtained permission from his superiors to run for the
post.
He is one of seven candidates vying to replace the outgoing
Wismoyo Arismunandar in the three-day congress, which began on
Tuesday.
The other six include Arie Sudewo, Agum Gumelar, Luhut Binsar
Panjaitan, Iskandar Zulkarnain, Andhy Gani Nena Wea and Oesman
Sapta Odang.
Asked why he persisted in joining the race when his position
as Jakarta governor entailed a hectic schedule, Sutiyoso said he
was not ambitious about the sporting post.
"Only because of urging from athletes and former athletes have
I decided to be involved. Though I have to admit I was a bit late
in starting," he said.
The National Athletes Association (IANI), which is led by
former world badminton champion Icuk Sugiarto, has thrown its
weight behind the governor.
Sutiyoso spoke of his plan, if elected, to inject funds into a
select number of KONI provincial chapters to develop their
respective priority sports.
He said that his role in the governors' association should
help him revitalize sports development on a regional level.
The congress involves 50 KONI-affiliated sports organizations,
29 KONI provincial chapters and a number of observers.
After Wismoyo's accountability speech on the second day of the
congress on Wednesday, the convention will round up its session
on Thursday with the main agenda to elect the council's new
chairman.
The seven candidates will be discussed during a commission
meeting before being brought forward to the plenary session
during which their candidacy eligibility will be decided upon.