'Tapornas' sports fund

'Tapornas' sports fund

From Pelita

The concept of Tapornas (National Sports Achievement Savings
Program) as a means of raising funds from society is a good one
as long as it is executed in the right way. Of course the idea
should be carefully considered, taking into account both its
positive and negative effects on social life, especially in view
of the fact that it will involve prizes of billions of rupiah. It
should be remembered that we have had many kinds lotteries in the
past, including Toto Koni, Porkas, STTB, SDSB. All these fund-
raising programs proved to be more harmful to society than was
warranted to support the merits of sports. In fact the funds
raised from those lotteries were of very little help in improving
achievement in sports. And many sports branches failed to
progress.

Therefore, in the case of Tapornas, it would be better if the
government openly explained how the program is to work and what
the procedure would be, so that the community can participate in
the discussion. It is also necessary to involve ulemas, banking
authorities and other scholars in studying the merits and
demerits of this particular fund-raising program.

MUHAMMAD RH

Jakarta