Don't politicize Garuda

Don't politicize Garuda

From Media Indonesia

For quite some time now, Indonesia's flag carrier, Garuda, has been without a president director. The hope that Laksamana Sukardi, as the state minister for state enterprises, would improve the professionalism and management of state enterprises has yet to be realized.

As a result of the sluggishness of the Office of the State Minister for State Enterprises in naming a new president director for Garuda, the airline, which over the past three years had become more dynamic and responsive to customers, has slowly lost steam. Garuda employees have lost morale because of the uncertainty in the company's management.

In this context, the state minister for state enterprises must realize that a quick fix is necessary to ensure that Garuda can compete in the highly competitive airline business.

One thing to remember is that Garuda is obliged to pay US$128 million in yearly installments on its debts for the next 16 years. If Garuda is not well operated, it will be unable to meet this obligation because it can no longer rely on the government.

Therefore, the Office of the State Minister for State Enterprises should ensure that Garuda's affairs are not politicized and that there is no political interference in resolving Garuda's problems, including the appointment of its new president director.

Let Garuda continue to fly high carrying the country's flag without any political interference.

HERRY PRAKOSO

Depok, West Java