The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) Calls Mining Commodity Resulting Areas A Poor Population, Why?

Head of the KPK Coordination and Supervision Task Force Region V Dian Patria/DOK PHOTO: Wardhany Tsa Tsia-VOI

JAKARTA - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) revealed that people in mining commodity-producing areas are usually poor people.

This was conveyed by the Head of the KPK Coordination and Supervision Task Force Region V Dian Patria in a media discussion on Tuesday, October 21.

He said that people in mining commodity-producing areas usually do not benefit because most of them actually work as farmers or fishermen.

"Those who often complain from the public in particular, usually areas rich in mining are the poorest people," said Dian, quoted on Wednesday, October 22.

"Yes, why? Because usually they live from farmers or they are fishermen, yes," he continued.

As farmers or fishermen, Dian said, damaged environmental conditions would certainly affect their livelihoods. "Meanwhile, existing workers are from outside. It can come from abroad, it can come from outside the province. They (residents, ed) are getting poorer," he said.

Dian also explained that there are at least a number of mining commodity-producing areas but the population is poor based on the Central Statistics Agency (BPS). Among them are Weda, Central Halmahera, North Maluku and Morosi, Konawe, Southeast Sulawesi.

"Even though that's the mining center. Okay, people say in North Maluku double-digit growth, but where's the money? Swimming isn't there," said Dian.

"If we go to Ternate, there are still people who earn garbage to find food. Please look at Ternate, it's hard to find food, especially when we talk at Halmahera," he concluded.