Bukit Asam workers reject new board of directors<\/p>\n
Bahrul Ilmi Yakub, The Jakarta Post, Palembang<\/p>\n
More than 200 workers of state-owned coal company PT Bukit Asam
\nheld a demonstration at the South Sumatra legislative building in
\nPalembang on Tuesday, demanding the central government annul the
\nappointment of the company's new board of directors.<\/p>\n
The workers said they would not return to their workplace
\nunless Minister of State-owned Enterprises Laksamana Sukardi met
\ntheir demand for the appointment of new directors to be recruited
\nfrom within the company.<\/p>\n
\"It is demeaning for the company that the minister hired
\nexecutives from other state companies to replace the company's
\nboard of directors. We have professionals who well understand the
\ncompany's financial and labor conditions,\" said Iskandar Maliki,
\nspokesman for the workers in a meeting with the legislature.<\/p>\n
Iskandar said the workers were aware of the company's status
\nas a state-owned company but that the central government should
\nlisten to their demands in line with the implementation of
\nregional autonomy in the province.<\/p>\n
\"The appointment of the company's board of directors should
\nnot be a matter of like and dislike but that of professionalism.<\/p>\n
\"We reject the appointment of Ismet Jailani, Sutrisno and
\nAbdullah Azis from PT Semen Padang because they are responsible
\nfor the recent take-over of the cement factory by an angry mob.
\nWe fear that they will also give up if local people in Tanjung
\nEnim take over Bukit Asam's management,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Iskandar said workers have also received accurate information
\nabout the three's poor track record during their assignment at
\nSemen Padang.<\/p>\n
\"We do not want our company to be a target of extortion by
\ncorrupt officials. Bukit Asam must be managed professionally to
\nmake it financially healthy and to protect workers' interests,\"
\nhe said, citing that the members of the board of directors were
\nappointed without any fit and proper test.<\/p>\n
The new board of directors led by Ismet Jailani was installed
\nat the company's headquarters in Tanjung Enim, some 200
\nkilometers south of Palembang last week.<\/p>\n
Nur Iswanto, chairman of Commission D on economic and state
\ncompany affairs, pledged to convey the demonstrators' aspirations
\nboth to the governor and the state minister.<\/p>\n
He acknowledged the demonstrators' concerns, saying it was a
\nnew step for workers of state-owned companies to promote
\nprofessionalism and to fight against corrupt and collusive
\npractices.<\/p>\n
\"It is no longer a secret that most state-owned companies
\ncannot achieve good results because of the lack of
\nprofessionalism and the corruption and collusion within the
\nbureaucracy,\" he said, adding that privatization would be a
\nbetter alternative to make the companies more professional and
\naccountable.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/bukit-asam-workers-reject-new-board-of-directors-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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