Indonesian VP hopeful slams Jokowi’s nickel investment policy

JAKARTA: One of three front-runners to become Indonesia’s vice president attacked Joko Widodo’s policy of forcing foreign companies to invest in mineral processing through export bans, stepping up criticism of the outgoing head of state’s economic record.

Muhaimin Iskandar (pic), the running mate of presidential candidate Anies Baswedan, said the goverment’s so called "downstreaming” policy had caused major environmental damage without significantly benefiting local people. While the measures helped create much needed jobs in outlying islands, in particular on Sulawesi, foreign workers have dominated the new roles, Iskandar said.