YLKI overwhelmed by complaints over stickers
JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Consumers Organization (YLKI) has received more than 50 complaints in the last two days about the aggressive fund-raising method for the SEA Games.
The foundation's chairwoman, Tini Hadad, said yesterday most of the complaints were from mobile phone owners, water and electricity customers.
"Mobile phone owners complained that their monthly bills included Rp 2,500 for the Games, but they didn't receive stickers," Tini said.
Customers of state-owned electricity company said they were told to pay Rp 1,000 for the Games in addition to their monthly bill, even though their house's electricity capacity was only 900 watts.
"Customers whose electricity's capacity is 900 watts are exempted from the obligation," Tini said.
She said people who did not want to pay for the stickers could refuse. "This is voluntary contribution," Tini said.
The selling of Games stickers was legalized by a Ministry of Social Services decree No: BSS/583/XII/96. The ministry appointed PT Angkasa Ronagraha, a consortium headed by President Soeharto's son Bambang Trihatmodjo, to raise Rp 35 billion (US$14.9 million) to help finance the Rp 100 billion Games through the sale of stickers.
"Donations" are set at between Rp 1,000 and Rp 50,000 through the sale of stickers. However, many people have complained as the amounts are automatically included in their receipts for water, electricity and telephone bills. People are also charged a SEA Games fee at entertainment centers.
Supermarkets and department stores also charge consumers who buy goods worth more than Rp 50,000. Those applying for land titles are also subject to "donations".
Deal
According to the deal, the consortium collects the donations from shops, restaurants and state-owned water and electricity companies once every two weeks.
YLKI executive director, Zumrotin K.S., said the foundation was currently circulating questionnaires on SEA Games donations to mobile phone owners. "We expect to complete the polling this week and get results next Monday," she said.
She said the organization did not only receive complaints from within Jakarta, but also from other areas such as Lampung.
"Water customers in Lampung were upset because they were asked to pay for five stickers, starting March, instead of April," Zumrotin said.
South Kalimantan governor, Gusti Hasan Aman, said he had not been officially informed of the collection of funds through stickers. However, the consortium has started collecting the funds directly from customers' bills without prior notification.
Sri Wahyuni, a telephone customer living in Rawa Barat subdistrict, South Jakarta, said she was forced to pay a Games donation as it was already included in her bill.
"I hope that Telkom will explain to the customers because, as far as I know, those donating to the Games should get stickers in return," Sri, a mother of three, said.
Tukidjo, head of the Rawa Barat Post Office, confirmed that many people had raised complaints over the stickers.
"I can't give them an answer because Telkom has not informed me on the matter," Tukidjo said.
Jakarta Telkom's spokesperson, Yorius Sumampauw, said the company had received instructions from its central office to bill its customers directly.
He said that customers who refused to pay for the stickers could state their objection. "They can refuse to pay by reporting their objection to the local officials in charge of their telephone bill payments," Yorius said.
The officials would then pass the customers' objection to Telkom, he said. (ste/11)