Warning issued on SEA Games stickers
Warning issued on SEA Games stickers
JAKARTA (JP): The Ministry of Social Services has sent a
warning letter to the 19th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games consortium
about the raising of Games funds by selling stickers.
The ministry's director general for social aids, Syafei
Anjasmaya, said yesterday his office sent the letter for several
reasons.
"First, based on our evaluation we have the impression that
people are forced to buy stickers because it's automatically
charged to their telephone, water and electricity bills," Syafei
said.
"Second, many people didn't receive the stickers although they
have paid at least Rp 1,000 (US$41.7 cents) in their bills. Some
branch offices of PLN claimed they didn't receive the stickers
from the consortium."
"The biggest fault is that cheap house owners are also forced
to pay Rp 1,000. It is against the ministerial decree," he said.
The ministry issued a decree on March 11, 1997, stated the
consortium could raise funds by selling 17,750,000 stickers over
three months.
Sixteen million of the stickers are being sold for Rp 1,000
each, while the rest are being sold for between Rp 2,500 and Rp
50,000.
Originally, customers of state-owned electricity company PLN
who consumed more than 900 watts of electricity, state-owned
water company PAM customers, state-owned telecommunications
company Telkom customers, drivers or car owners renewing or
getting drivers' licenses, and vehicle registration documents
were the people targeted to buy the stickers.
Hotels, restaurants, recreational parks and airports in 27
provinces have also charged their customers for the stickers.
The consortium hopes to raise Rp 35 billion (US$14.6 million)
from the sticker sales.
But the consortium, chaired by President Soeharto's son
Bambang Trihatmodjo, has raised only Rp 1.3 billion in Jakarta
and Rp 2 billion throughout the country.
Syafei said the ministry would ask the consortium to explain
what was going on and urge it to improve its management.
"If by June 11 the consortium still cannot explain the sticker
sales clearly, there's nothing we can do but stop it."
The ministry expects to make a decision on extending or
stopping the sticker sales by mid-June.
Poor treatment
Earlier yesterday, the minister of social services, Inten
Soeweno said in an interview with RCTI that many people were
willing to contribute to Games funds but were disappointed by the
treatment they received.
"The community wants the consortium and the National Sports
Council to control the sticker sales. If they both can explain
clearly about the sales, I believe the public would give any
assistance to make the event a success," she said.
Jakarta Governor Surjadi Soedirdja has urged Jakartans not to
pay for the stickers because the gubernatorial decree expired
Monday.
The state minister of youth affairs and sports, Hayono Isman,
urged the consortium to explain what was going on to the public.
The council's chairman, Wismoyo Arismunandar, said "please,
let's not exaggerate the problems. Why should people complain for
only Rp 1,000. In the past, we took the freedom with our blood,
sweat and tears. Now, the public refuses to donate Rp 1,000 for
the nation's pride in an international event," he said.
The Games opening and closing ceremonies deputy, TB Silalahi,
said the ceremonies would cost Rp 7 billion.
Nearly 15,000 students will be involved in the ceremonies. The
opening will be on Oct. 11, while the closing ceremony will be on
Oct. 19.
"We plan to stage a rehearsal of the opening at the Borobudur
hotel on Aug. 1. It will also celebrate the hotel's re-opening.
People can see how beautiful the ceremony will be," he said.
Silalahi said choreographer Guruh Soekarnoputra would not be a
participant in the ceremony. (yan)