Plane, what plane?<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The East Kalimantan provincial government has a
\nNorman Britten aircraft but officials -- let alone the people --
\nnever knew about it.<\/p>\n
Governor Suwarna Abdul Fatah was dumbfounded when executives
\nof the Kalimanis Group told him they came to return the 10-seater
\naircraft the company borrowed eight years ago.<\/p>\n
\"We did not realize we had an aircraft until it was returned
\nto us,\" provincial government spokesman Haritsyah Ratman told
\nAntara on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
The legislative council was even more amazed to find that the
\nplane was lent to the company controlled by Mohammad \"Bob\" Hasan,
\nformer president Soeharto's well-known crony, for free.<\/p>\n
Officials learned later that the aging aircraft was granted by
\nthe Canadian government during the previous governorship of H.M.
\nArdans.<\/p>\n
Ardans would not use it because its operational costs were too
\nexpensive. He instead lent it to Kayumanis. The firm returned the
\njet as part of its austerity measures.<\/p>\n
Councilor Bustani Bakrie pledged to investigate the odd
\nlending arrangement to see if collusion was involved.<\/p>\n
The cash-strapped administration is wondering what to do with
\nthe aircraft, now parked high and dry at Temindung Airport. (pan)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/plane-what-plane-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}