KPK Will Coordinate With The Ministry Of Investment After Calling Bahlil Lahadalia Regarding Mining Permits

Minister of Investment/Head of BKPM Bahlil Lahadalia (ANTARA)

JAKARTA - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) said it would coordinate with the Ministry of Investment/BKPM after the opportunity to summon the Minister of Investment/Head of BKPM Bahlil Lahadalia.

Deputy Chairman of the KPK Alexander Marwata said coordination was important after they received information that Bahlil had abused his authority in revoking and reactivating the Mining Business License (IUP) and the Right to Use Business (HGU). He said the news was continuously being observed.

"KPK will coordinate with the Ministry of Investment/BKPM," Alexander said in a written statement quoted on Tuesday, March 4.

Alexander ensured that his institution would not close its eyes with the allegations written in the Tempo Magazine investigation report. The information will be traced.

"KPK is watching the information submitted by the public or the Tempo Magazine investigation report," he said.

"We will study this information and clarify those who are reported to be aware or involved in the nickel mining licensing process," continued Alexander.

In the investigative report, Bahlil is said to have asked for billions of rupiah in return or share participation in each company in an effort to revoke or issue IUP and HGU. This made Member of Commission VII DPR RI Mulyanto ask the KPK to intervene.

According to him, it is time for the agency to examine Bahlil in his capacity as Head of the Task Force for Arrangement for the Use of Land and Investment Arrangement. Moreover, the existence of the task force actually overlaps with the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources.

"This task should be the domain of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources because the law and Presidential Decree regarding mining businesses are in the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, not the Ministry of Investment," Mulyanto told reporters, Monday, March 4.

Meanwhile, Bahlil recently reported that Tempo Magazine and podcast content from the media called him playing in the issuance of IUP and HGU. This news is considered detrimental to him and does not comply with the Journalistic Code of Ethics.

"Because some of the information submitted to the public leads to accusations and slander, it is also full of unverified information," said Special Staff to the Minister of Investment/Head of BKPM Tina Talisa, who became Bahlil's power when she complained to the Press Council on Monday, March 4.

"Therefore, we believe there is an element of a violation of the Journalistic Code of Ethics, among which is related to the obligation of journalists to always test information and not mix the facts and opinions that judge," he concluded.