Fruit of power and arrogance<\/p>\n
Indonesia's aircraft manufacturing company, PT Dirgantara
\nIndonesia, which has been the country's pride during the New
\nOrder era, is on the brink of bankruptcy.<\/p>\n
All of the company's activities practically came to a halt
\nlast Saturday, after it suspended operations and sent home its
\n9,800 employees over the past six months.<\/p>\n
Indeed, the company has been a long-time target of criticism
\nbecause its sophistication and big capital are deemed too much
\nfor a country like Indonesia.<\/p>\n
Dubbed the country's prodigal project, whose expenses are much
\nbigger than its income, the company should have been closed
\nearlier than expected.<\/p>\n
However, all the criticisms were negated by the argument that
\nPT Dirgantara Indonesia is a strategic industry, which gives the
\ncountry an added value.<\/p>\n
Above all, the aircraft manufacturing industry was nothing but
\nthe trust of then president, Soeharto, in his protege, B.J.
\nHabibie.<\/p>\n
No matter how high the cost was, it was Habibie's personal
\nambition, with support from and the protection of the highest
\nauthority, to pursue the project.<\/p>\n
An inefficient industry with no market will go bankrupt in the
\nlong run.<\/p>\n
It is an expensive lesson this nation has to live with. The
\nauthorities have to open their eyes and turn their ears to the
\ncriticism that no prodigal industry can survive with mere power
\nand arrogance.<\/p>\n
-- Media Indonesia, Jakarta<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/fruit-of-power-and-arrogance-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }