MPI vows to go it alone despite new forestry group<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Forestry Society (MPI) vowed
\nyesterday to remain in existence despite the establishment of a
\nrival forestry society advocating reforms in the sector.<\/p>\n
MPI spokesman A. Tjipto Wignjoprajitno said the organization
\nwould not join forces with the new group, the Indonesian Forestry
\nSociety for Reforms (MPI Reformasi), despite overtures from the
\nlatter.<\/p>\n
"It is a free competition. Businesspeople will look and choose
\nto join the better association. So, let's see."<\/p>\n
Eight MPI members met with Minister of Forestry and
\nPlantations Muslimin Nasution earlier yesterday to discuss the
\nreforms in the forestry sector.<\/p>\n
"The minister said that we should be more responsive to the
\npeople's aspirations and the current economic crisis. MPI should
\nrestructure its management system," Tjipto said.<\/p>\n
He said eight of its nine members, mostly comprising
\nassociations of companies operating forestry-related businesses,
\nstill supported its existence.<\/p>\n
Represented were the Association of Indonesian Wood Panel
\nProducers (Apkindo), the Association of Indonesian
\nConcessionaires (APHI), the Indonesian Saw Mill Association
\n(ISA), the Indonesian Pulp and Paper Association (APKI), the
\nIndonesian Flora and Fauna Traders Association (HAPFFI), the
\nAssociation of Furniture and Handicraft Producers (Asmindo), the
\nAssociation of Formaldehyde and Thermosetting Adhesive Industries
\n(AIFTA) and the Association of Indonesian Wood Preservation
\nIndustries.<\/p>\n
The other member, the Federation of Indonesian Forest
\nConsultant Companies (Hikkindo), has yet to reconfirm its
\nmembership.<\/p>\n
MPI Reformasi is a grouping established by businesspeople in
\nthe forestry sector to rival the MPI, an organization once
\ncontrolled by timber baron Mohamad "Bob" Hasan, a crony of former
\npresident Soeharto.<\/p>\n
The organization, chaired by Sofyan Siambaton, pledged to help
\nthe Ministry of Forestry and Plantations manage the country's
\nforests in an environmentally sustainable manner and in a way
\nwhich would benefit local people in forested areas. They also
\ncalled for the abolition of several levies imposed by Hasan's
\nMPI, which they charged had burdened timber companies.<\/p>\n
Sofyan said Wednesday the organization planned to meet leaders
\nof the MPI next week to discuss the possibility of merging the
\ntwo societies.<\/p>\n
But Tjipto countered yesterday that his association had
\nimplemented its own reform program since February by abolishing
\nseveral levies considered burdensome to forestry companies and
\ngradually revising its statutes and management system.<\/p>\n
MPI and its members, which for more than 12 years were
\ncontrolled by Hasan, have been criticized for their crony-
\ncapitalism and other unsavory practices.<\/p>\n
Tjipto said Hasan had pledged that he would no longer
\ninterfere in MPI's business.<\/p>\n
Tjipto, who is also Apkindo's executive director, said Apkindo
\nhad about US$113 million in deposits and stakes in Bank Umum
\nNasional, Bank Artha Graha and state Bank Negara Indonesia and
\nBank Dagang Negara.<\/p>\n
He denied the deposits were registered in Bob's name and said
\nthey were all in the name of the association.<\/p>\n
He said Apkindo owned stakes in Bank Muamalat Indonesia and
\nBank Bukopin. He said that the stakes, amounting to about Rp 20
\nbillion, or 13 percent separately, would be granted to affiliated
\ncooperatives.<\/p>\n
"As far as I know, Apkindo's stakes in Bukopin will be granted
\nto the cooperative of Apkindo employees as one of Apkindo's moves
\nto reduce the social gap," he said. (gis)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/mpi-vows-to-go-it-alone-despite-new-forestry-group-1447893297",
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