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)