Ulemas urged to issue edict on gambling
Ulemas urged to issue edict on gambling
JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Consumers Foundation urged the
Indonesian Ulemas Council yesterday to issue an edict on gambling
following a proposal by the National Sports Council to reinstate
a lottery to raise funds for sports.
The agency's deputy chairman, Agus Pambagio, told reporters
yesterday that such an edict was necessary because the fund-
raising program would target the people.
"The government bans gambling but that is not enough. People
must have moral standards which explain whether they are gambling
if they buy lottery coupons," Agus said.
On Thursday, Dali Taher, a sports businessman who proposed the
lottery, said that under the scheme, called the Sports Awareness
Campaign, an estimated Rp 100 billion (US$7 million) of public
funds could be raised annually from the sale of coupons.
He said half of the money would go to the organizers to
provide prizes, 30 percent would go to the sports community and
the remaining 20 percent to the Ministry of Social Services and
the National Sports Council.
Coupons will be sold for Rp 5,000 each, with the lowest prize
also worth Rp 5,000. State-owned bank BRI is expected to
distribute the coupons, which might well also serve as tickets to
watch certain competitions.
Buyers will probably also qualify for a prize if they collect
at least three coupons which bear the same sports logo.
Dali claimed that the ulemas council had approved the
proposal.
Agus questioned yesterday the small portion of funds which
would go to the sports council.
"If the lottery concept is to help the council develop
national sports, why does it allocate most of the funds raised to
provide prizes? I think it will encourage people to gamble," he
said.
Agus said people would tend to buy the coupons for the prizes
as sports events are relatively rare. "Isn't it gambling?" he
asked.
Agus suggested the sports council and those who introduced the
proposal to explain it to the public and ask for advice from the
House of Representatives, religious groups and social scientists.
"We don't want to oppose the plan. We, on behalf of the
public, just want the sports council to learn from the
controversial SEA Games sticker sale," said Agus.
He said he had asked for an explanation from council chairman
Wismoyo Arismunandar and secretary Rudolf S. Warouw but had not
received a response. (yan)