NTB administration called to be transparent over Newmont royalty

The West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) administration must be transparent over the huge royalty received from the Sumbawa-based gold and copper mining firm PT Newmont Nusa Tenggara (NNT).

Sumbawa legislator M. Jabir demanded NTB Governor Harun Al-Rasyid to inform to the public the size of the royalty received from NNT.

Harun was quoted as saying by the Bali Post daily that he was informed by fellow legislator in Jakarta, Hatta Taliwang, that the NTB administration had already received the NNT royalty.

He said that some 32 percent of the royalty should to go to Sumbawa to finance its development program.

Jabir's statement was made amid similar allegations by non-governmental organization that the NTB administration has quietly receive the NNT royalty of around Rp 19.9 billion (US$1=Rp 8,600).

Jabir warned that the NTB administration had to be transparent over the royalty fund or it could become another social and political problem in the province. (*)