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