Swimming body remains uncertain about new board
Swimming body remains uncertain about new board
JAKARTA (JP): The line-up of the Indonesian Swimming Federation's leadership board remains uncertain after the first meeting of its electoral body yesterday.
The federation's single elector Ginandjar Kartasasmita and his advisors Mangombar Ferdinand Siregar and Wardoyo met yesterday, but no decision on the new federation's cabinet was made.
Siregar, himself a former chairman of the federation, said that Ginandjar would stay off the leadership board.
"I don't think that Ginandjar will be on the board, given his tight schedule as State Minister of National Development Planning/Chairman of the National Development Planning Board," Siregar told The Jakarta Post after the meeting yesterday.
Ginandjar was the chairman of the federation from 1987 to 1991.
"Whoever becomes the federation's chairperson must have the time to seriously take care of the federation," Siregar added.
But Wardoyo, the federation's outgoing technical director, told the Post yesterday that Ginandjar has found suitable people for the federation's new line-up, including a new chairperson. He said he would disclose names only after receiving approval from the nominated persons.
"Mr. Ginandjar will reveal the new chairperson's name in a get-together dinner for breaking the fast scheduled for Friday next week at the federation's head office," Wardoyo said.
It is understandable that Siregar should underline the importance of "really having time for the federation."
One week before the association's congress began on Jan. 16, the outgoing chairman, State Minister of Investment/ Chairman of Investment Planning Board Sanyoto Sastrowardoyo, indicated in an informal meeting with the federation's top officials that he might no longer be the right person for the chair.
"Mr. Sanyoto told the meeting he was aware that he was not very effective as chairman because his mounting activities made it very difficult for him to find time for the federation," Dedeng Kurnia, head of the federation's secretariat, told The Post yesterday.
Some officials suggested Sanyoto could remain chairman by appointing an executive director to supervise the federation on a daily basis, Dedeng said, but Sanyoto said it was up to the congress.
During the congress, however, Sanyoto's name was never mentioned.
With Sanyoto out of the nomination list, the congress, held from Jan 16 to 17, saw two strong candidates, Ginandjar and President Soeharto's daughter Siti Hediyanti Prabowo, to take the federation's helm for the next four-year term.
With some of the federation's provincial chapters throwing their weight behind Mrs. Prabowo while some others wanting Ginandjar, the congress ended inconclusively.
Mrs. Prabowo, the wife of Brig. Gen. Prabowo Subianto, the Chief of the Army's Special Forces, will be a newcomer in the federation if elected. Unlike Ginandjar, she has never held any position in the federation before. Moreover, it is not clear whether she is willing to take the federation's top job. (arf)