TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives (House) Fahri Hamzah, said that the House will initiate an investigation towards the resignation of Freeport Indonesia CEO Maroef Sjamsoeddin. "Maroef's resignations confirmed that there are things that we don’t understand," Fahri said on Tuesday, January 19, 2016.
Fahri asserted that Maroef resignation is an important event although he claimed to have no explanation on the reason behind the move. Fahri said that he cannot predict whether the resignation can be considered to be based on Maroef’s success or failure in leading the giant mining company.
Fahri added that the House needs to know why Maroef had decided to resign because it may be related with the company’s contract extension.
However, Fahri said that to be able to conduct an investigation, the House would need support from political powers. "Investigation could clear things up," Fahri said.
Fahri also planned to request for the Supreme Audit Agency's help in evaluating Freeport's total value of exploitation activities and how it contributes to public welfare in Papua and Indonesia.
Earlier, Maroef declared that his resignation was based on personal reasons. Many claimed that Maroef rejected an offer to extend his term as the company's CEO, and was replaced by Robert C. Schroeder.
The announcement was made by Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc. President and CEO Richard C. Adkerson in an internal memo dated Monday, January 18, 2016. "For the meantime, Robert Schroeder will undertake Pak Maroef's responsibility," Adkerson said in the memo.
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