JAKARTA, Oct. 20 (Xinhua) -- Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto said on Monday that illegal mining, smuggling, and other fraudulent practices in the natural resources sector have caused enormous losses to the state, amounting to tens of trillions of rupiah each year.
Speaking at a ceremony marking the recovery of 13.25 trillion rupiah (around 810 million U.S. dollars) in state losses from a corruption case involving crude palm oil and its derivatives, Prabowo praised the Attorney General's Office for its efforts in combating corruption and restoring state finances.
He said recent operations to halt tin smuggling from Bangka Belitung revealed estimated losses of up to 40 trillion rupiah annually, which had persisted for nearly two decades. He noted that the government would act firmly against any party harming the people's interests.
Prabowo called on all sectors to unite in protecting Indonesia's vast natural resources, stressing that better management and integrity would accelerate national recovery. ■
