"I know Andi is highly committed to sports, as he is a sports lover himself," KONI chairwoman Rita Subowo said Wednesday when asked about her expectations of the new minister.

"I believe we will work better together."

KONI and the ministry, under outgoing minister Adhyaksa Dault, have fallen out over the latter's unprecedented move to establish a national training center, the PAL, thereby usurping KONI's exclusive training camp.

Lawmaker-turned-athlete Utut Adianto urged the two offices to sit together and redefine their respective responsibilities in national sports development.

"KONI must be seen as an equal partner of the sports ministry, not a subordinate," said the member of the House of Representatives' Commission X.

"There must also be a clear work distribution between the ministry and KONI."

Andi Mallarangeng was among the 34-strong Cabinet sworn in by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on Thursday. He was officially inducted into his new post at a handover ceremony at the ministry office in Senayan in the afternoon. KONI's Rita also attended the ceremony.

The minister faces a daunting task ahead, given the ongoing slump in national sports, reflected most notably in Indonesia's lackluster performance at the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games.

Indonesia last emerged as overcall champions of the biennial multi-event sporting showcase in 1997.

Indonesia is set to send 314 athletes to Laos, where the next SEA Games will take place from Dec. 9 to 18. Although preparations were underway long before Andi, from Yudhoyono's Democratic Party, took office, Utut said Laos was an early test of his leadership before Indonesia seeks to regain its supremacy when Jakarta hosts the event in 2011.

"The upcoming SEA Games in Laos will be his first test," said Utut, from the Indonesian Democratic Party-Struggle (PDI-P).

"He'll be challenged to realize the country's dream of becoming overall champion again in the 2011 SEA Games."

Other multi-event championships to follow in the next five years include the 2010 Asian Games in Guangzhou, China, the 2011 SEA Games, the 2012 Olympics in London, the 2013 SEA Games in Singapore and the 2014 Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea.

Andi may also face a dilemma over whether to continue with the PAL.

Although the controversial program does tread on KONI's toes, Utut said, it should be continued.

Andi said he would talk to KONI about the PAL.

"I'll ask for feedback from KONI and other experts so that we can all benefit," he was quoted in vivanews.com as saying.

Popular

Volcano erupts in North Sulawesi, hundreds evacuated

Dubai roads, airport reel from floods after record rains

Ramadan boosts consumer confidence, retail sales