The milking targets are state companies to receive capital injection in the form of state capital participation from the state budget, Dahlan said.
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Minister for State Enterprises Dahlan Iskan confirmed allegation that a number of lawmakers had sought to extort funds from state companies.

The milking targets are state companies to receive capital injection in the form of state capital participation from the state budget, Dahlan said.

Dahlan was earlier said to have sent a text message to Cabinet Secretary Dipo Alam about certain lawmakers having sought to extort funds from state companies .

Dipo circulated the allegation triggering an uproars in the House of Representatives with House Speaker Marzuki Ali demanding Dahlan to name the rogue lawmakers.

Dahlan, however, refused to say name.

On Thursday, he said state companies had been asked by the lawmakers to pay an amount to guarantee that they get the endorsement for their capital injection from the House of Representatives.

PT Merpati Nusantara Airlines, military weapon producer PT Pindad and shipbuilding PT PAL are among state companies extorted by lawmakers.

They are all financially weak, therefore, they need financial injection from the government, Dahlan said.

"The lawmakers even demanded payments from the companies already on the brink of bankruptcy," he said.

That is why the process often took unnecessary long time for House approval, he said, adding a company had complained it had received telephone calls 20 times demanding the payout.

The lawmakers even told leaders of the state companies that the fund could be funneled via vendors not directly from the companies, he said.

"It looks like such illicit practice has been like business as usual for the lawmakers. They make no different between small and big companies," he said.

A report from state company board of directors, said the rogue lawmakers normally arranged a meeting at hotels or cafes, he said.

Marzuki Ali said he would back up Dahlan Iskan if he was ready to give the name of lawmakers

"I will give full support if Dahlan names the culprits that everything could be clear," he said earlier.

He said the allegation should be made clear or it would badly smear the reputation of House of Representatives. (*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
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