Lawmaker demands apology from PT Freeport president

By Thomas Sembiring

Mukhtar Tompo, a member of the House of Representatives Commission VII on energy and mining, demanded President Director of gold and copper giant PT Freeport Indonesia Chappy Hakim to make an apology for being rude to him at the end of a closed-door meeting on Thursday between the commission and mining industry players.

Tompo claimed that when he was about to shake Chappy's hand at the end of the meeting, the latter made rude remarks with loud voice, and pointing fingers at him.

The Hanura Party lawmaker said he would discuss "the incident" with the Commission VII and party leaders.

Tompo said he did not know why Chappy has been disrespectful toward him, but acknowledged that he had written in his Twitter account about PT Freeport for not being serious in realizing its promise to build the required domestic smelter, and in breach of the mining law.

PT Freeport Spokesman Riza Pratama could not be immediately reached for comment.

Editing by Reiner Simanjuntak