Wiranto backs Subagyo to chair PBSI

JAKARTA (JP): Army Chief of Staff Gen. Wiranto has backed the nomination of his deputy, Lt. Gen. Subagyo Hadi Siswoyo, for the chairmanship of the Badminton Association of Indonesia for the period 1997-2001.

Wiranto, who is the chairman of the Indonesian Karatedo Association, said yesterday that Subagyo was the right nominee to improve the quality of the association for the future.

Although the previous two PBSI chairs were also deputy army chiefs, Wiranto denied that it had become a given. "It's not like that. The most important thing is that he's qualified for the position."

Subagyo was nominated to chair the association together with Jakarta Military Commander, Maj. Gen. Sjafrie Sjamsuddin. Other names, including businessman Aburizal Bakrie and Minister of Transmigration Siswono Yudohusodo, were also mentioned in the running.

As Sjafrie and incumbent chair Surjadi both withdrew themselves from selection, Subagyo's election to head PBSI appears a formality.

The association's Jakarta branch chairman, Karsono, said last week that 11 provincial branches from a total of 27 had supported Subagyo's nomination before the national congress, scheduled Nov. 28 to Dec. 1.

They are West Java, Central Java, East Java, Yogyakarta, Lampung, South Sumatra, North Sumatra, Bali, North Sulawesi, Irian Jaya and Jakarta.

Meanwhile, Subagyo said Saturday that he would be ready to chair the association if the congress selected him.

But he said Jakarta branch officials had yet to contact him personally on the matter.

Jakarta PBSI secretary-general, Leo Ch. Wiranata, said yesterday that he had prepared a letter for Subagyo.

"There's a commitment for Surjadi (the current chairman) to hand over the letter personally to Subagyo. But Surjadi is still in Tegal, Central Java, now. We hope tomorrow he will receive the letter," he said.

Karsono said Subagyo had been nominated to chair the association because he was considered a member of the greater badminton "family" within the association. He was viewed as being able to fit in at the association, enhance players' development and raise funds.

Former top player Icuk Sugiarto said Saturday that the new chairman should be chosen among members of the badminton community for a smooth transition.

"If a newcomer enters the 'family', he will have two tasks. First he has to overcome our athletes performance, and second he has to adapt with the organizational duties," he said. (yan/amd)