Try offers himself middleman

Eva C. Komandjaja, Jakarta

Former chairman of the Indonesian Badminton Association (PBSI) Try Sutrisno has offered to mediate in a conflict between the association's regional chapters and the central board, a PBSI official said.

Twenty four regional chapters are calling for incumbent chairman Chairul Tanjung to resign on the grounds he has presided over the deterioration of the national badminton program.

Chairul has also been blamed for failing to meet his promise to channel money to provincial chapters for development programs.

The calls come after the Indonesian men's team in April failed to retain the Thomas Cup in Jakarta. Indonesia had held the cup five consecutive times.

"Pak Try said it would be best for both parties to sit down together and talk over the problem rather than holding an extraordinary meeting," PBSI foreign affairs official Sulistyanto said here on Wednesday.

Chairul has already promised to hold an extraordinary meeting where he would announce his resignation on the conditions an acceptable replacement was available to step in.

Saying he was still waiting for a suitable candidate, Chairul has insisted on staying in his post until after the Athens Olympics in August.

Sulistyanto said it would not be an easy task to hold an extraordinary meeting given the requirement that it be attended by two-thirds of the regional chapters and branches.

Try, a former Indonesian vice president during the New Order regime, was planning to invite Chairul and regional heads to discuss the issue, Sulistyanto said.

"He (Try Sutrisno) also said it would be up to the regional chapters to decide whether to elect a new chairman for the association. But it is important not to leave the seat vacant," Sulistyanto said.

Try served his chairmanship from 1985 to 1993, during which time Susi Susanti and Alan Budikusuma earned Indonesia its first Olympic gold medals by winning the women's and men's singles events at the 1992 Games in Barcelona, Spain.

Regarded by many as one of the most successful PBSI managers, Try now looks keen to impose his influence on the current board, which has been distracted by the recent conflict.

Sulistyanto said Try suggested a new chairman should fulfill three requirements.

"He must be a sports lover but not necessarily be involved with badminton, have good access to the bureaucracy including regional government and be good with money," he said.

Sulistyanto said the chapters could submit possible candidate names to Try, who would judge whether they were capable of taking the chairman's job.

Separately, PBSI vice chairman of regional development Aksa Mahmud said he would try to persuade regional chapters not to proceed with the extraordinary meeting because of fears it could create a split in the organization.