Pawnshops to receive donations

Pawnshops to receive donations

JAKARTA (JP): The Ministry of Finance announced yesterday that
state-run pawnshops throughout the country have been appointed
official receivers of all public donations to help the government
overcome the monetary crisis.

Upon receiving a donation -- gold, cash or other valuables --
Perum Pegadaian Pawn Company must make out a written receipt, of
which the original copy must be presented to the donor.

The receipt must include necessary information such as the
name of the donor and value of the donation.

"All donations to the state such as gold, cash or foreign
currency in essence belongs to the state and thus must be
administered and accounted for to the public in a proper manner,"
the ministry said in a statement.

The chairman of each state-owned pawnshop is required to make
a weekly report to the Ministry of Finance on the amount of
donations received.

Noted public figures such Siti Hardiyanti Rukmana, President
Soeharto's daughter, and a group of ulemas have pioneered a drive
to donate gold to help the government overcome the country's dire
economic situation. (mds)