Garuda's outgoing chief praised<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Transportation Haryanto Dhanutirto
\nyesterday acknowledged that Garuda Indonesia, the national flag
\ncarrier, significantly improved under the management of Wage
\nMulyono, who was replaced by Supandi last Friday.<\/p>\n
\"Wage was entering retirement and I have to underline that he
\nwas successful in managing Garuda. For instance, the airline's
\nprofit surged from some Rp 7 billion in 1993 to more than Rp 350
\nbillion in 1994,\" he told reporters after attending a ceremony
\nfor the transfer of Wage's job to his successor Supandi at
\nGaruda's headquarters here.<\/p>\n
Haryanto's statement on the 1993 profit was apparently a
\ncorrection to his own figure of Rp 73 billion that he mentioned
\nlast year.<\/p>\n
The 1994 profit actually included the cash payment from the
\nsale of 17 aging DC-9 aircraft to an Australian company.<\/p>\n
The ceremony, attended by Director General of Air
\nTransportation Zainuddin Sikado and Director General for State
\nEnterprises Martiono Hadianto, was closed to reporters.<\/p>\n
\"I did not want my photograph taken,\" Haryanto said after the
\nceremony.<\/p>\n
Some officials attending the ceremony said that Haryanto was
\nso touched when shaking hands with Wage that his eyes filled with
\ntears.<\/p>\n
Wage was absent at Supandi's installation ceremony held at
\nHaryanto's office last Friday.<\/p>\n
Haryanto yesterday declined to comment on controversial
\nreports about the replacement of Wage, who reportedly requested
\nan early resignation due to unnecessary intervention from the
\ngovernment. Wage, 61, should actually serve as Garuda's president
\nuntil early 1997.<\/p>\n
The minister also said that Garuda must be very clever in
\ncontrolling its financial affairs, in particularly in dealing
\nwith the procurement of aircraft.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Martiono said that Garuda cannot directly arrange
\nloan raising.<\/p>\n
\"It's the government's task to accrue loans for state firms
\nbecause it will affect the country debt service ratio,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Martiono also said that many airlines all over the world also
\nsuffer financial problems as the prices of jets have increased at
\na faster rate than airfares.<\/p>\n
The prices of jets have tripled in the last 15 years, while
\nairfares have remained the same, he said. (icn)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/garudas-outgoing-chief-praised-1447893297",
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