Fruit of power and arrogance

Fruit of power and arrogance

Indonesia's aircraft manufacturing company, PT Dirgantara
Indonesia, which has been the country's pride during the New
Order era, is on the brink of bankruptcy.

All of the company's activities practically came to a halt
last Saturday, after it suspended operations and sent home its
9,800 employees over the past six months.

Indeed, the company has been a long-time target of criticism
because its sophistication and big capital are deemed too much
for a country like Indonesia.

Dubbed the country's prodigal project, whose expenses are much
bigger than its income, the company should have been closed
earlier than expected.

However, all the criticisms were negated by the argument that
PT Dirgantara Indonesia is a strategic industry, which gives the
country an added value.

Above all, the aircraft manufacturing industry was nothing but
the trust of then president, Soeharto, in his protege, B.J.
Habibie.

No matter how high the cost was, it was Habibie's personal
ambition, with support from and the protection of the highest
authority, to pursue the project.

An inefficient industry with no market will go bankrupt in the
long run.

It is an expensive lesson this nation has to live with. The
authorities have to open their eyes and turn their ears to the
criticism that no prodigal industry can survive with mere power
and arrogance.

-- Media Indonesia, Jakarta