TEMPO.CO, Surabaya - President-elect Joko "Jokowi" Widodo said that there are a lot of mafia practices in the oil and gas and electricity sectors that have been causing errors in natural resources management.
"We have oil, but we're still lining up to buy it. Why? Because there are oil mafias," said Jokowi on Sunday, August 31, 2014, adding that mismanagement in the oil and gas sector is also due to the government's lack of firmness in eradicating mafia practices.
Jokowi gave an example on Indonesia's oil that is being processed overseas, and then sold in the domestic market with higher price.
Jokowi also deplored the fact that most power plants are still fueled by oil. "Why not use gas and coal? They are cheaper. I have calculated tens of trillions that could be saved. Mafias are all over the place."
Jokowi said that ministers in his future cabinet must be able to get rid of mafia practices. "The first job of the new minister is to eliminate those mafias," he said.
ARTIKA RACHMI FARMITA