"PT Timah Employees were very disappointed with the conclusion they drew, which was based on data collected from ITRI (International Technology Research Institute)," the Chairman of the PT Timah Employees Association said.
Pangkalpinang, Bangka Belitung (ANTARA News) - The employees association of PT Timah (Persero) Tbk will discuss the follow-up steps to be taken for the alleged theft of tin, worth Rp21.696 trillion, by Malaysia.

"Tomorrow, we will hold an internal meeting to discuss further steps that we are going to take regarding this issue, be it through legal action or diplomatic action. All will be decided tomorrow," said Wirtsa Firdaus, the Chairman of the PT Timah Employees Association, here on Thursday.

"PT Timah Employees were very disappointed with the conclusion they drew, which was based on data collected from ITRI (International Technology Research Institute)," he noted.

"From these data, Indonesia has suffered a loss of Rp21.696 trillion," Firdaus added.

Based on the calculation, he said, Indonesia should make a claim for the losses.

"We have to do something; we cannot remain silent. We have to claim it because Malaysia claimed a part of Indonesia's intellectual property and culture as its own some time ago," Firdaus pointed out.

Earlier, it was suspected that 120,532 tonnes of tin from Bangka Belitung were illegally mined by Malaysia during the 2008-10 period.

"They looted us by illegally mining tin in Bangka Belitung," Firdaus stated.

"According to ITRI data, Malaysia produced 128,000 tonnes of tin during the period from 2008 to 2010," he noted.

"However, given the permitted production capacity for Malaysia, it cannot produce more than 7,490 tonnes in the two-year period," Firdaus said.

On the basis of the discrepancy between the two figures, the PT Timah Employees Association concluded that 120,532 tonnes of tin belonging to Indonesia had been illegally mined by Malaysia.

"As we know, the nearest country from Malaysia with abundant tin resources is Indonesia. Therefore, we concluded they took it from us," Firdaus explained.

Assuming the average price of tin to be US$20,000 per tonne and the currency exchange rate to be Rp9,000 per dollar, Indonesia has suffered a loss of Rp21.696 trillion.(*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
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