Forestry minister ready to come to KPK

Forestry Minister MS Kaban expressed his readiness to come to the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) office if the anti-graft body needs his clarification about the forest conversion policy in Bintan, Riau Islands and Musi Banyuasin, South Sumatra.

"I will come to the KPK if my clarification is needed," he said on the sidelines of a reforestation activity in Gunung Kebo forest, Sambirejo village, Trenggalek district, East Java, on Thursday.

According to him, no regulation or law had been violated in the change of function of the protected forest in Bintan and the mangrove forest in Musi Banyuasin, which had led to the arrest and detention of two members of the House`s commission IV.

Al Amin Nur Nasution, a member of House Commission IV is now held in custody by the KPK over an alleged bribery case regarding the protected forest conversion.

"Under law no.41/1999, the forestry ministry is responsible for forest matters and the forest area conversion," Kaban said ...