REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- The government should investigate claims that a politician had asked for some shares from PT Freeport Indonesia, a party leader has said.

"This case must be investigated thoroughly. NasDem fully supports it," General Chairman of the National Democratic Party (NasDem) Surya Paloh said after attending the fourth anniversary celebration of NasDem here on Wednesday.

Surya said he was convinced that the statement of the Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) Sudirman Said was true. The minister had said that a politician had asked for a portion of shares from PT Freeport.

He said that the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) should investigate the information revealed by Minister Sudirman Said.

Surya, who is the owner of the Media Group, expressed the hope that the politician would be examined in a transparent fashion.

"If another party executive is also suspected of involvement, he or she should also be investigated transparently," the NasDem chairman said.

Surya said police could ask Minister Sudirman Said about the alleged request for shares by a politician from PT Freeport. It is suspected that the politician asked for shares as a quid pro quo to help PT Freeport renegotiate the PT Freeport contract extension.

Earlier, it was reported that a noted politician had taken advantage by dropping names of President Joko Widodo and Vice President Jusuf Kalla in the matter related to negotiations for the extension of PT Freeport Indonesia contract.

Jusuf Kalla has already been informed about the identity of the politician by Minister Sudirman Said.

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