Two candidates left for swimming body
Two candidates left for swimming body
JAKARTA (JP): Delegates from 24 provinces who gathered at the
national congress of the Indonesian Swimming Federation here
yesterday split their votes prior to the election of their new
chairman slated for today.
The congressmen put two prominent figures, Siti Hediyanti
Prabowo, also known as Mbak Titiek, and former chairman Ginandjar
Kartasasmita on the overnight nomination list.
Titiek, a daughter of President Soeharto, was dubbed the
favorite to take the association's helm for the next four-year
term in place of outgoing chairman Sanyoto Sastrowardoyo.
Ginanjar, minister of national development planning and
chairman of the national development planning board, is Sanyoto's
predecessor.
The election will cap the two-day congress, which is also
expected to set up the association's planning until the end of
the millennium.
L. Widjanarko, a training official from Central Java, told
reporters during a coffee break that the province would throw its
weight behind Ginandjar in today's election.
"Ginandjar led us to a successful period when he took office,"
Widjanarko said.
Widjanarko said that the Central Javanese delegation would
like Mangombar Ferdinand Siregar, also a former chairman, to take
over the association's technical affairs due to his experience.
Central Java will also nominate some businesspeople to the
leadership board since the association needs financial aid.
The support for Titiek as the new chairman mounted yesterday,
although she has yet to accept her nomination.
"I agree to Mbak Titiek's nomination although I hardly know
her. I think she will lead us to success if she is assisted by
experts," Ule Latumahina, an official from Irian Jaya said.
Jakarta and West Java delegations earlier expressed their
support of Titiek's nomination.
If she is elected she will be the second of Soeharto's
daughters to chair a sports organization. Titiek's eldest sister,
Siti Hardiyanti Rukmana was elected as the chairman of the
Indonesia Volleyball Association last week.
Their younger brother, Hutomo Mandala Putra, chaired the
Indonesian Motor Sports Association from 1991 to 1995.
Chairman of the National Sports Council, Wismoyo Arismunandar,
urged the new leadership board of the association to help
Indonesian swimmers regain their supremacy in the 19th Southeast
Asian Games here next year.
"The 18th SEA Games saw national swimmers with their worst
outcome since 1977," Wismoyo said recently. (05)