Newmont Share Purchase is the Government's Right  

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Finance Minister Agus Martowardojo said the plan to buy purchase seven percent stake in PT Newmont Nusa Tenggara remains as the government's focus. He asserted that the government has the authority to buy Newmont's shares in accordance with the contract of work (CoW). He stated his objection if the government's plan to buy the shares is fouled by a variety of reasons.

Earlier, the Constitutional Court ruled that the government must received approval from the House of Representative (DPR) before they can purchase Newmont's shares. On the ruling, Agus said that "we will do it." According to him, the government still needs time to review the Constitutional Court's decision.

Vice Chairman of DPR's Finance Committee Harry Azhar Azis said that the government must seek DPR's approval before using the state budget to purchase Newmont's shares. "Whoever the minister is," he said on Tuesday, March 26.

He fully leaves the decision to purchase Newmont's remaining shares to the government.

As previously reported, the government has several options in Newmont's divestment. The options include being purchased by the government, the Ministry of State-Owned Enterprises, or local governments.

SOE Minister Dahlan Iskan had said the divestment agreement is entirely up to the government. "I will follow the Ministry of Finance's policy," Dahlan said.

GUSTIDHA BUDIARTIE | ANANDA PUTRI| SETIAWAN