West Sumbawa Residents Report Newmont to KPK
19 May 2014 14:44 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The people of West Sumbawa reported US-based mining company PT Newmont Nusa Tenggara to the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK). Newmont is accused of operating without a government-approved 2014 work plan budget and expenditure (RKAB).
"This is a serious offense because a foreign company is arbitrarily operating without government approval," West Sumbawa local Amir Jawas said in a statement last week.
Amir said that the RKAB should be approved by the government in early 2014. Newmont has not received the approval yet, but the company is already producing. According to article 14, paragraph 4 of the Contract of Work (CoW)—signed by both parties on December 2, 1986—Newmont has the obligation to submit its work and budget plan to the government by no later than November 15 or February 15 of each year. "It KPK's duty to investigate Newmont's reason," Amir said.
Malik Salim, former senior manager of external relations at Newmont, expressed his support to the people of West Sumbawa. Malik hopes the antigraft body will immediately follow up on the report.
Newmont's general supervisor for communication Ruslan Ahmad denied the allegation. According to Ruslan, the rules about RKAB are clearly stipulated in articles 14 and 16 of the CoW the company acquired for mining coal in West Sumbawa's Batu Hijau regency. "We did not break any no rule or law," he said.
AYU PRIMA SANDI | SUPRIYANTHO KHAFID (MATARAM)