Bukit Asam workers reject new board of directors

Bahrul Ilmi Yakub, The Jakarta Post, Palembang

More than 200 workers of state-owned coal company PT Bukit Asam held a demonstration at the South Sumatra legislative building in Palembang on Tuesday, demanding the central government annul the appointment of the company's new board of directors.

The workers said they would not return to their workplace unless Minister of State-owned Enterprises Laksamana Sukardi met their demand for the appointment of new directors to be recruited from within the company.

"It is demeaning for the company that the minister hired executives from other state companies to replace the company's board of directors. We have professionals who well understand the company's financial and labor conditions," said Iskandar Maliki, spokesman for the workers in a meeting with the legislature.

Iskandar said the workers were aware of the company's status as a state-owned company but that the central government should listen to their demands in line with the implementation of regional autonomy in the province.

"The appointment of the company's board of directors should not be a matter of like and dislike but that of professionalism.

"We reject the appointment of Ismet Jailani, Sutrisno and Abdullah Azis from PT Semen Padang because they are responsible for the recent take-over of the cement factory by an angry mob. We fear that they will also give up if local people in Tanjung Enim take over Bukit Asam's management," he said.

Iskandar said workers have also received accurate information about the three's poor track record during their assignment at Semen Padang.

"We do not want our company to be a target of extortion by corrupt officials. Bukit Asam must be managed professionally to make it financially healthy and to protect workers' interests," he said, citing that the members of the board of directors were appointed without any fit and proper test.

The new board of directors led by Ismet Jailani was installed at the company's headquarters in Tanjung Enim, some 200 kilometers south of Palembang last week.

Nur Iswanto, chairman of Commission D on economic and state company affairs, pledged to convey the demonstrators' aspirations both to the governor and the state minister.

He acknowledged the demonstrators' concerns, saying it was a new step for workers of state-owned companies to promote professionalism and to fight against corrupt and collusive practices.

"It is no longer a secret that most state-owned companies cannot achieve good results because of the lack of professionalism and the corruption and collusion within the bureaucracy," he said, adding that privatization would be a better alternative to make the companies more professional and accountable.