Accused Of Having Debt To The State, Jusuf Hamka: I Won In The Supreme Court, Don't Debat Kusir

JAKARTA - Entrepreneur Jusuf Hamka emphasized that neither himself nor the controlled company, namely PT Citra Marga Nusaphala Persada Tbk. (CMNP), has no debt arrears to the state or government.

He conveyed this to reporters after coming to the office of the Coordinating Ministry for Political, Legal and Security Affairs (Kemenko Polhukam) in Jakarta today.

According to Jusuf, this is important in order to understand the current problems between CMNP and the Ministry of Finance (Kemenkeu) regarding debts.

I have a prove (evidence if I don't have a debt to the state/government). Have I ever not been on the traffic jam list? Second, I won at the Supreme Court (MA)," he said on Tuesday, June 16.

Jusuf explained on that basis why he was willing to make an agreement with the Ministry of Finance regarding the settlement of government arrears that had not been paid to his company.

"For example, if I still have a debt, why (the government, in this case the Ministry of Finance) made an official report on the boss's agreement (to pay debts to his company). Why should I be called, ask for a discount as well as the boss," he said.

"Never mind, don't debate. Debt is a debt. If you want to be paid, Alhamdulillah. If you don't get paid, be grateful, complain to Allah. That's it," he added.

Based on information compiled by the editors, this problem started with the government having to pay CMNP deposits and giro at Bank Yakin Makmur (Yama) of IDR 78.84 billion and IDR 76.09 billion, respectively.

Meanwhile, Bank Yama was taken over by the government in line with the provision of Bank Indonesia Liquidity Assistance (BLBI) in 1998. Meanwhile, CMNP itself is considered affiliated with Bank Yama so that the funds have to be frozen.

On January 15, 2010, the Supreme Court (MA) decided that the government should pay the deposit provided that it would pay an additional 2 percent fine every month until the payment was paid off.

Over time, the government then negotiated with CMNP to agree that debt payments were made without interest or fines. Jusuf Hamka's company objected, until finally both parties agreed with a value of Rp. 179.5 billion.

However, until now Jusuf Hamka and PT Citra Marga Nusaphala Persada have not felt that they have received the rights promised by the government.