Former Garuda chief agrees with Ridwan

Former Garuda chief agrees with Ridwan

JAKARTA (JP): Wage Mulyono, former president of the national
flag carrier Garuda Indonesia, says the refusal by Merpati
Nusantara Airlines president Ridwan Fataruddin to lease 16 CN-235
aircraft was a managerially professional and correct decision.

Mulyono, who was Garuda president until January this year,
told the Sinar newsweekly that Merpati has the right to choose
the type of aircraft it wants to operate on the basis of
commercial viability.

Mulyono was chief commissioner of Merpati, a subsidiary of
Garuda, during his three-year term as the chief of the national
flag carrier.

"The state-owned IPTN aerospace company has failed to market
its CN-235 airplanes even on the domestic market because the
aircraft operations are not profitable. Many private companies
refuse to use that aircraft," he said.

Thorough studies should be carried out to ascertain the
reasons behind the gross inefficiency of the CN-235 aircraft,
Mulyono added.

Asked about the imminent dismissal of Ridwan as the president
of Merpati, confirmed by Air Transport Director General Sikado on
Thursday, Mulyono strongly suggested that the government retain
Ridwan in the position.

"Ridwan is a graduate of the Jakarta School of Economics of
the University of Indonesia and has a lot of experiences in the
airline industry," he said.

Mulyono said that if Ridwan is replaced by a "yes-man" the
effect on the airline will be disastrous.

"Merpati will go bankrupt," he said.

Director General Sikado told a hastily-convened press
conference on Thursday evening that Ridwan would soon be replaced
as Merpati chief for violating procedures in the construction of
Merpati's new head office in Jakarta.

Sikado said Ridwan's imminent replacement had nothing to do
with his refusal to lease 16 CN-235s from PT Arthasaka Nusaphala,
a company jointly-owned by the Bakrie and Humpuss business
groups.

However, Ridwan categorically denied Sikado's statement,
saying that all the necessary procedures had been followed in the
construction of the office building.

Ridwan, who has been working at Merpati for more than 26
years, said that the building project was approved by Merpati's
shareholders (Garuda and government representatives) on Dec. 24,
1991. He added that he was not appointed Merpati president until
Aug. 2, 1992.

"It was the Garuda chief who was responsible for notifying the
ministers of transportation and finance about the building
project," Ridwan said.

In any case, he added, the finance minister, as the government
nominee shareholder in all state companies, had in fact approved
the Merpati building project. (vin)