After The Death Of Vice Regent Helmud Hontong, PKS Party Legislator Urges The Government To Evaluate Sangihe Island Mining Permits

Illustration-Mining Activities (Photo: Unsplash)

JAKARTA - Commission VII of the House of Representatives highlighted the odd death of the Deputy Regent of Sangihe, Helmud Hontong on a plane while traveling home from Bali to Manado via Makassar.

Member of Commission VII of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR) Mulyanto asked the Indonesian Police to investigate the connection between the mysterious death of the deputy regent and a letter requesting the cancellation of the permit to PT. Mas Sangihe Mine (TMS), which he proposed to the Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources.

Mulyanto assesses that this case cannot be viewed as an ordinary event, because it involves public figures who are struggling to defend the interests of the community.

"Although we don't know for sure the results of the police autopsy regarding the cause of the death of the Deputy Regent of Sangihe", said Mulyanto, Monday, June 14.

The PKS Party politician also urged the Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Arifin Tasrif to immediately take quick steps to evaluate the gold mining permit on the island of Sangihe.

"The mining permit granted for 42.000 hectares, more than half the area of Sangihe Island, deserves public attention", he continued.

Mulyanto assessed that the decision of the Deputy Regent of Sangihe asking the Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources to review the permit was very appropriate. Considering the area of the mining permit granted is almost 50 percent of the area of Sangihe Island.

"Therefore, the Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources must evaluate the extent of the mining permit granted", he said.

The deputy chairman of the PKS Party faction of the DPR RI also asked the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources to review the environmental and mining safety aspects in accordance with existing laws and regulations so that they can truly protect the people on Sangihe Island.

"Can a small island like this be granted an industrial mining permit of that size without damaging the safety of the environment and society?", he asked.

Mulyanto continued, the permit should only be granted for an area that is really prospective to be mined, from an economic, social, and environmental perspective. Not half the area of Sangihe Island.

"This is an exaggeration. How can the people of Sangihe island live properly if half of the area is mining? We can't imagine it", said Mulyanto.

To note, PT Tambang Mas Sangihe (PT TMS) has obtained the necessary permits to carry out mining activities, both mining permits from the Central Government, as well as environmental documents and spatial suitability from the Regional Government.

The permit from the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources was granted on January 29, 2021, for 42.000 hectares. Meanwhile, the area of Sangihe Island is only 73.700 hectares.

The refusal of the Deputy Regent of Sangihe for the permit issued by the Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources in the form of writing an official letter has been reported to have been received by the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources.