"As Parliament speaker I confirm we never misused the name of the president," Novanto said.
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Parliament Speaker Setya Novanto denies suggestion that parliament leaders have used the name of President Joko Widodo and Vice President Jusuf Kalla for illegal gain.

"As Parliament speaker I confirm we never misused the name of the president," Novanto said here on Monday.

Earlier, Sudirman Said, the Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) Minister, said a politician had used the name of the president and vice president for illegal gain from PT Freeport Indonesia in exchange of support for extension of its contract .

PT Freeport Indonesia, an Indonesian unit of the U.S. mining giant Freeport McMoran Copper & Gold was seeking extension of its contract which will end in a number of years.

Novanto said he knew nothing about the information given by the ESDM minister about politicians using the name of the president for illegal gain.

He said Parliament leaders have met the president , vice president and cabinet ministers only on state affairs.

"We always are careful in using the name of the president as he is the head of the state," he said.

He said he did not know yet the substance of the report of the ESDM minister to the Honorary Council of the Parliament.

The ESDM minister has reported to the Parliament Honorary Council that a member of the parliament had met leaders of PT Freeport Indonesia (PTFI) demanding an unpaid share in a power generating plant to be built in Timika, Papua .

"I have given the name, time and place (where the meeting took place) and the substance of talks between the parliament member and leader of PT Freeport," the minister said earlier on Monday.

The minister said the politician and a businessman had had several meetings with leader of PT Freeport Indonesia (PTFI).

The third meeting took place at a hotel in Jakarta on 18 June, 2015, he said.

"The politician offered support in the process of extending the contract of PTFI and in exchange of PTFI gave a share in the names of President Joko Widodo and Vice President Jusuf Kalla," the minister said.

He said the politician also asked PTFI to invest in the power generating project and buy electricity from the power plant.(*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
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