Humpuss cancels project

Humpuss cancels project

JAKARTA (JP): The Humpuss business group owned by former
president Soeharto's son Hutomo "Tommy" Mandala Putra has
canceled a plan to open a 300,000-hectare oil palm plantation in
Manokwari, Irian Jaya, although the local administration had
appropriated land for the project.

According to Manokwari Regent Mulyono, the company decided to
cancel the project because the land available was only 35,000
hectares, which it considered inadequate for supporting a large
plantation.

"The local people have given away their land for free to
support the plantation project, but now the investment plan has
been canceled," Mulyono was quoted by Antara as saying.

Mulyono added that the local administration would assist
domestic and foreign investors interested in developing
businesses in his regency.

He said several other companies were developing oil palm and
cacao plantations in the area but he declined to give further
details. (01)