"What is the interest of the central government in the seven percent stake? This is the interest of the United States to maintain its position. The stake to be divested should be designated for the greatest benefit of the NTB people," Akram, an economist at Mataram University, said.
The statement by Akram was quoted by the NTB office of the Legal Aid Institute (LBH) in a press release made available to ANTARA here on Monday.
Akram said that an ownership of the stake by NTB would psychologically and economically serve as a manifestation of the NTB people`s dignity.
"The local people are hurt if the central government takes it. It cannot be denied that NNT is located in NTB and is in the face of the local people," he said when he spoke to a public discussion that carried a theme: "Divestment for the People of NTB."
In the meantime, head of NTB`s mining office Eko Bambang Suteja said that the presence of NNT in NTB should be able to provide the greatest benefit for the local people.
He said that the matter did not happen so far, however. He said that in 2010, NNT paid Rp5.8 trillion to the central government. "But only Rp269 billion or about four percent were returned to the region," he added.
Even, deconcentration funds from the energy and mineral resources ministry for NTB only accounted for Rp1 billion, he said.
Legislator Harry Azhar Azis of the House Commission IX on financial affairs said the finance minister`s decision to acquire the seven percent stake would yield a note of distrust to the minister.
"The central government has violated the agreement not to purchase the share. The stake should have been offered for the greatest benefit of the region," he said.(*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
