ITDC Emphasizes Not Managing Compensation Fund for the Mandalika Resettlement Program After Being Reported to the KPK

ILLUSTRATION VIA ANTARA

JAKARTA - PT Pengembangan Pariwisata Indonesia (ITDC) menegaskan tidak berwenang dalam penetapan penerima manfaat maupun pengelolaan dana kompensasi Program Pemukiman Kembali (PPK) di Kawasan Ekonomi Khusus (KEK) Mandalika yang dilaporkan ke Komisi Pemberantasan Korupsi (KPK).

ITDC Corporate Secretary I Gusti Ngurah Agung Dwipramana said the Resettlement Action Plan is part of handling the social impact of the Mandalika SEZ development which is carried out collaboratively by various parties in accordance with their respective duties and authorities.

"Responding to reports regarding the alleged corruption report of the PPK in the Mandalika area to the KPK, ITDC respects the right of every citizen to convey aspirations and reports to authorized institutions in accordance with legal regulations," Agung said in a written statement, Tuesday, June 23.

Agung explained that the program was a joint commitment to ensure that people affected by the development of the area receive proper treatment through relocation and resettlement.

"This program is a form of mutual commitment to ensure that people affected by the development of the area receive proper handling through the relocation process and the re-arrangement of settlements in accordance with applicable regulations," he said.

ITDC then confirmed that its involvement was limited to supporting the arrangement of the area and providing supporting facilities during the relocation process.

Agung said the company did not make any payments, distribution or management of compensation funds to the public. In its implementation, ITDC only provided temporary land at HPL Number 94 based on the request of the Central Lombok Regency Government in 2019.

The land is used as a temporary relocation site for affected people who occupy the development area of the Mandalika area until the permanent resettlement area in Ngolang Village is ready to be used.

Apart from providing land, ITDC also supports the development of basic infrastructure and utilities to support community needs during the transition period.

"We need to emphasize that ITDC does not have the obligation or authority in determining the beneficiaries, providing compensation to the public, and managing the budget of the Resettlement Program (PPK)," he said.

"ITDC always carries out all business activities by prioritizing the principles of good corporate governance (Good Corporate Governance), compliance with laws and regulations, and upholding transparency and accountability," said Agung.

As previously reported, the Indonesia Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC) was reported to the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) regarding alleged corruption in the development program for residents affected by the Mandalika area, Central Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara (NTB). The report also dragged the Central Lombok Regency People's Housing and Settlement Area (Perkim)

"ITDC does not carry out existing obligations, planned obligations, obligations that have been mandated by law, for example, one of them, that ITDC will provide resettlement money to 120 households, but in practice ITDC does not give all households as much money as promised. Nah, this is a violation of the law committed by ITDC," said Representative of the NTB Legal Studies and Assistance Agency, Badaruddin at the KPK Red and White Building, Kuningan Persada, South Jakarta, Monday, June 22.

Badaruddin said his party had submitted a report letter along with a number of supporting evidence to the KPK.

Apart from the issue of the amount of money that is not appropriate, Badaruddin also said that ITDC is suspected of not carrying out its responsibility to relocate residents affected by the construction. The process is said to have been carried out by the Central Lombok Regency Perkim Office.

Meanwhile, the NTB Legal Aid and Study Institution also reported the Central Lombok Regency Perkim Office regarding the alleged non-distribution of social assistance of Rp. 15 million to 120 recipient families.

Badaruddin said his party had calculated the potential financial losses to the state based on the evidence it had. For the alleged involvement of the Perkim Office, the value is estimated to be more than IDR 300 million and could grow to IDR 1.2 billion.