PKB Rejects Universities To Become Mining Managers: Prone To Legal Problems

Illustration of mining management (ANTARA)

JAKARTA Member of the Legislation Body (Baleg) of the DPR RI from the PKB faction, Habib Syarief Muhammad Alaydrus, expressed his disapproval of the university's proposal as a mine manager. He is worried that higher education institutions will fall into legal problems in the event of an error in mining management.

This was conveyed by Habib Syarief in the discussion on the revision of the Mineral and Coal Law (UU Minerba) which is being discussed at the Legislative Council of the Republic of Indonesia.

According to Habib Syarief, the main task of universities is to organize education, research, and community service, not to carry out business activities such as mining management.

"Universities have a major role in producing quality and highly competitive human resources. Not to manage mines, because it is not the task of universities," he said on Wednesday, January 22, 2025.

The PKB legislator from the electoral district (Dapil) of West Java I considered that mining management by universities could interfere with the focus of educational institutions in providing quality education services.

If a campus is granted a mining permit, universities will compete to become mine managers. Obviously, this will have a bad impact on the main goal of education," he said.

Habib Syarief is also worried about the legal impact that might occur if universities are given a mining concession. He considered that the mistake or lack of understanding in mining management could plunge universities into legal problems.

Mining businesses in Indonesia are still in gray areas in various aspects. Providing mining concession permits to universities has the potential to have serious legal impacts," he explained.

Habib Syarief emphasized that granting mining permits to universities is not the right solution to improve campus welfare. He advised the government to provide support in other forms, such as profitability index, which has been given to local governments by mining companies.

"The state must look for a more appropriate way to improve the welfare of universities without involving them in mining activities," he added.

For information, the university's proposal as a mine manager is stated in Article 51 letter A of the Draft Law (RUU) Minerba. The regulation states that mining business permit areas (WIUP) can be given to universities through a priority mechanism.

The consideration of granting the permit includes: 1. The area of the metal mineral mining business permit area. 2. College accreditation (minimal accreditation B). 3. Increase access and education services for the community.

The draft Minerba Bill also states that further provisions regarding the provision of WIUP metal minerals to universities will be regulated by government regulations. In addition to universities, WIUP can also be given to community organizations, the private sector, and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).