TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The corruption of the handling of natural resource sector is said to be in a worrying state, stated the KPK. According to Dian Patria, Chairman of the Natural Resources Corruption Prevention Team in the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), potential state losses caused by corruption in this sector is the highest compared to other fields.

“[The amount of corruption] could possibly be unlimited,” said Dian on Wednesday, October 4.

Dian revealed that potential state-losses in this sector come from the tax which does not correspond with the production results. Many companies fail to report the result of their production, and even if there are companies that report regarding their production, it usually non-factual and already doctored.

The corruption case of former North Konawe Regent Aswad Sulaiman adds to the list of public servants arrested by KPK that were involved in issuing illegal mining permits. Previously, KPK also named non-active Governor of Southeast Sulawesi Nur Alam as a suspect of the corruption case that involved the issuance of a mining permit throughout the period of 2008-2014.

Dian explained that KPK is currently collecting every existing record regarding mining permits and its level of obedience. He claims that KPK is urging the government to revoke 3,000 permits that have expired and 2,000 permits that do not meet the clean and clear standards.

According to KPK, many regional leaders are not willing to revoke mining permits that were issued by its previous leaders.

MAYA AYU PUSPITASARI