"The exportation of raw minerals will never be allowed. It has become my commitment and policy as PAN chairman," Hatta said when campaigning in front of thousands of cadres and sympathizers of PAN here on Sunday.
He also expressed his commitment to fighting smuggling of mineral resources, saying that so far it only benefited certain groups while our sons would continue to endure hardships.
Hatta explained that the step to ban the export of raw materials was really a bitter policy in the short-term but in the long run it would benefit the people.
Indonesia has so far become only as a raw material supplier for industrial states.
"Now is the time for this country to become an industry base so that it will no longer export raw materials but processed goods with high economic values," he stressed.
Indonesia is going to hold parliamentary elections throughout the country on April 9 to select legislators for the National Parliament as well as provincial and district legislative councils.
There are 12 parties standing in the parliamentary election. The number of total registered voters is 185.8 million.
For the House of Representatives (national parliament, 560 seats are up for grabs, to be contested by 6,607 candidates.
In addition, there will be elections for 132 seats for regional representatives at the national level, 2,112 provincial parliamentary seats, and 16,895 seats for district level legislative assemblies.
Presidential election will be organized on July 9, 2014.
(SYS/A014/B003)
Editor: Suryanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2014
