Public donates 248 kg of gold to govt

Public donates 248 kg of gold to govt

JAKARTA (JP): The government has collected 248.01 kilograms of
gold from public in a fund-raising drive since Jan. 20, the
finance ministry announced yesterday.

Ministry spokesman Hadiyanto said Rp 10.53 billion (US$1.17
million) and $446,472 in foreign exchange donations were also
collected during the same period.

The ministry also received three wristwatches, he said.

Hadiyanto said residents of Jakarta were the biggest donors in
all categories, with about 69.4 kg of gold, Rp 2.5 billion in
local currency and $384,769 in foreign currencies.

Riau province was the second largest gold contributor, with
42.1 kgs, and South Sulawesi next with 28.9 kgs of gold.

West Kalimantan was the second highest for rupiah donations,
providing Rp 1.6 billion, and East Java third with Rp 1 billion.

For foreign exchange donations, the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs was the second highest donator ($42,472) and West
Kalimantan third with $8,216.

Bank Indonesia currently safeguards all the public donations,
Hadiyanto said.

People wishing to donate can do so through the finance
ministry's accounts at Bank Indonesia. The rupiah account number
is 519.000.104, and the U.S. dollar account is 699.411.004, he
said.

The government has also assigned all branches of the state-
owned pawn company Perum Pegadaian to receive public donations in
gold, cash, foreign exchange and other valuables. The pawn shops
are required to submit weekly reports to the finance ministry's
directorate general of budget.

The drive for gold donations was pioneered by several noted
public figures, including President Soeharto's daughter Siti
Hardijanti Rukmana, on Jan. 20 to help the government overcome
the country's economic crisis. (gis)