Govt collects 225 kg of gold

JAKARTA (JP): The Ministry of Finance announced Monday that the government had received gold donations from the public totaling 225.87 kilograms, worth Rp 7.5 billion (US$888,000), since Jan. 20.

Public donations to the government in foreign currencies totaled $445,221 for the same period.

Bank Indonesia is currently holding all public donations, the finance ministry spokesman Agus Haryanto said.

The government has assigned pawn shops across the country to receive public donations to help the country through the economic crisis. The pawn shops are required to submit weekly reports to the finance ministry's Directorate General of Budget. (rid)