Garuda candidate draws criticism

Garuda candidate draws criticism

Debbie A. Lubis and Moch. N. Kurniawan, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The nomination of Samudera Sukardi, a brother of State
Minister of State Enterprises Laksamana Sukardi, as a candidate
for the top post at the country's flag carrier has continued to
draw criticism.

The latest opposition came from Government Watch, which
suspected that there were political scheming behind his
nomination as he was nominated by the Vice President's United
Development Party (PPP), and not by Garuda's shareholders during
a shareholders' general meeting.

Government Watch coordinator Farid R. Faqih suggested that
Samudera wait for a change in the Cabinet before he joined the
competition for Garuda's presidency.

He contended that if Samudera went ahead with his nomination
and Laksamana went ahead with his approval, it would only confirm
that nepotism was at play.

Although there would be a transparent "fit and proper test",
it would still create problems in the eyes of the people as the
final decision would still lie with Laksamana.

"There is a possibility of greater opposition -- at least from
inside Garuda -- if people see nepotism in the appointment
process," he said.

Laksamana said on Monday that Samudera had people supporting
him, and therefore, "I don't think there is any need to make an
issue of it."

PPP's secretary-general Alimarwan Hanan, who is also minister
of cooperative and small enterprises as well as deputy chairman
of the PPP faction in the House of Representatives Suryadarma Ali
both contended that Samudera was indeed a good choice.

"He is from Garuda and he has the ability to become Garuda
president, so there's no problem with it.

"We can't just block someone's career because his brother is a
key official in the country," he told reporters.

Samudera is currently the director of PT Abacus, Garuda's
subsidiary which handles online reservations, and has worked with
Garuda since 1977.

He maintained that he was eligible as a candidate, and this
had nothing to do with his brother, Minister Laksamana.

"I was with Garuda a long time before my brother became a
minister," he told The Jakarta Post.

He urged the government to establish a credible team to
conduct a transparent "fit and proper test" for all the
candidates, including himself.

If necessary, the government could use independent experts
from foreign universities or foreign airlines on the team, he
said.

"I am ready to compete with the other candidates because I
have loyalty to this country, a workable program for the company,
experience, and individual capability such as leadership and
managerial skills in the airline industry," he said.