Total's sub-contractors worried to disburse aid

The sub-contractors of French oil and gas company Total Indonesia were reluctant in disbursing aid from the oil company to the residents of Muara Jawa, Kutai regency, East Kalimantan on fear that the aid would be corrupted by the local governmental officials, Kaltim Post reported.

The paper quoted a local non-governmental organization activist Slamet Riyadi as saying that people suspected that some of the aid channeled by Total through its subcontractors to the district's people had been embezzled by the local governmental offcials.

"I respect the district head but his subordinates have deplorable performance," he said.

He called on the district head to form an independent team to audit the use of the aid provided by Total. (*)