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)