Hatta Causes US$9 million Daily State Loss, Group Claims

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The role of vice presidential hopeful Hatta Rajasa in an alleged oil import graft was revealed by a group calling themselves the People's Special Solidarity for Oil and Gas (Solidaritas Kerakyatan Khusus Migas/SKK Migas)—a play on the state oil and gas regulator bearing the same acronym. Hatta, the group claims, played a huge role in regulating the import of crude oil and fuel oil which costs the country about Rp108 billion per day.

In its report to the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), the group's coordinator Ferdinand Hutahaean said Hatta had controlled state oil company PT Pertamina and its subsidiaries in procuring imports.

During his time as Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Hatta is accused of hindering oil refineries development in Indonesia. "As a result, the oil import gap is getting bigger every day," he told Tempo.

Ferdinand said Hatta is suspected to have collaborated with oil importers. Pertamina and its subsidiaries, said Ferdinand, should have been able to import directly without going through an intermediary company—a move that had incurred the state with approximately US$10 per barrel, the marked-up purchase price from suppliers to Pertamina.

"The daily import volume is about 900,000 barrels. If the price is marked up by US$10 per barrel, the state loses US$9 million or around Rp108 billion per day," said Ferdinand.

KPK spokesman Johan Budi Sapto Prabowo said the group's report will be reviewed for validity. According to Johan, all reports the KPK receives must go through the process. "We cannot immediately jump into conclusions."

LINDA TRIANITA | PERSIANA GALIH