Pelindo cancels 13 projects linked to Soeharto's family
Pelindo cancels 13 projects linked to Soeharto's family
JAKARTA (JP): The state-owned sea port operator PT Pelabuhan
Indonesia II (Pelindo) said on Tuesday it had canceled 13
projects and planned to review several others linked to companies
headed by former president Soeharto's family and associates.
"Thirteen projects were canceled and 11 projects are being
reviewed, while two have been proposed to be canceled," it said
in a statement.
Company spokesman Sujarwo said some of the canceled projects
were connected with the Salim Group, headed by Lim Sioe Liong, a
close friend of Soeharto.
The decision was based on an investigation which found that
tenders had been awarded unfairly, Sujarwo said.
Pelindo's board of directors had set up an investigation team
to look into a number of its projects with companies owned by
Soeharto's family and his friends.
Other companies affected by the decisions include divisions of
the Humpuss Group, owned by Soeharto's youngest son Hutomo
Mandala Putra, and firms controlled by the former president's
second son, Bambang Trihatmodjo.
Soeharto resigned from the presidency on May 21 following
massive unrest and heated calls for him to step down.
Since then, many people have repeatedly urged the government
to investigate alleged practices of corruption by the former
president, his family and cronies during his 32-year autocratic
regime.
Separately, Minister of Communications Giri Suseno
Hadihardjono said his office had canceled 39 infrastructure
projects due to similar reasons.
Giri told a House of Representatives hearing on Tuesday that
the cancellations were made after a thorough investigation of the
ministry's 84 infrastructure projects awarded to governmental
agencies, state companies and private enterprises.
Of the 84 projects, 26 were proposed for renegotiation, while
the remaining 19 projects were recommended for continuation, Giri
told House commission IV for transportation, telecommunication,
public works and housing. (das)