Industry Ministry to Think Over Chatib's Request  

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Industry Ministry promised to look into Finance Minister Chatib Basri's request to evaluate the effectiveness of the low cost green car (LCGC) program. Budi Darmadi, the director-general for high-technology industry, acknowledged  he received the Finance Minister’s letter and that he would respond soon.

"First, we will study it and prepare the data. After it is done, of course we will immediately deliver it to the Finance Minister," he told Tempo last week. However, he refused to comment further on the evaluation request. "Give us time to study it," Budi said.

Last week, Chatib said that the letter was a request to to evaluate the effectiveness of non-subsidized fuel. "I care about fuel subsidy problem, we had hoped that the low green car  would consume non-subsidized fuel," he said.

He refused to answer when he was  asked whether the government would revoke the incentive if evaluation reveals that the LCGC program increases fuel subsidy. According to Chatib, he would review it together with the Industry Ministry. "We must figure out what are the steps that should be taken," he said.

 ANGGA SUKMA WIJAYA | MARIA YUNIAR | BERNADETTE CHRISTINA MUNTHE | NURUL MAHMUDAH | EFRI RITONGA