Four top officials to be replaced<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Communications Giri Suseno will soon
\nremove four top officials of his ministry in the wake of the
\ncrisis hitting state transportation companies, recent public
\ntransportation accidents and corruption allegations.<\/p>\n
Giri said yesterday that secretary-general of the ministry
\nMuchtarudin Siregar would be replaced by Anwar Supriadi, former
\npresident of the state railway operator Perumka; director general
\nof air transportation Zainudin Sikado by Soenaryo, president of
\nthe state-owned Curug Pilot Training Center; director general of
\nsea transportation Soentoro by Agus Rusdianto; and head of the
\nNational Search and Rescue Agency Harjanto by Setyo Rahardjo.<\/p>\n
He was speaking to reporters following the installation
\nceremony of a new board of directors of the state-owned Jakarta
\npublic transportation operator (Perum PPD), Perumka and bus
\ntransportation operator (Damri).<\/p>\n
The new presidents of the companies are Anton Sudarto, Edi
\nHaryoto and Darius Djana respectively.<\/p>\n
Giri expected the new board of directors would more innovative
\nin running the transportation companies amid the year-long
\neconomic crisis, which has led to soaring prices of imported auto
\ncomponents amid falling purchasing power of the people.<\/p>\n
Giri said earlier that the number of functioning urban public
\nbusses had dropped by more than 50 percent in June from 89,781
\nunits in August last year due to difficulties in obtaining
\nimported auto components following the sharp depreciation of the
\nrupiah against the U.S. dollar.<\/p>\n
Difficulty<\/p>\n
Perumka's Eddie separately said the currency crisis had also
\ncaused severe difficulties for the train operator as 85 percent
\nof its locomotives were imported.<\/p>\n
He forecast the 1998 net profit would be only Rp 100 million
\nfrom an earlier target of Rp 26 billion.<\/p>\n
Giri also said he had called on the country's electricity
\nauthority to lower the electricity tariff for Perumka's electric
\ntrain operating in Greater Jakarta.<\/p>\n
"The electric train provides service for lower income
\ncommuters."<\/p>\n
As part of the agreement with the International Monetary Fund,
\nthe government in May raised the electricity tariff level for the
\nelectric train operator, which previously enjoyed cheap
\nelectricity because of the company's social mission.<\/p>\n
Giri also expressed concern about the high level of accidents
\nin the public transportation sector, which investigations
\nrevealed were due to poor management.<\/p>\n
The country's airline sector was also beset by difficulties as
\npassenger volume dropped but operating costs soared due to the
\nplummeting rupiah, he said. (rei)<\/p>",
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