Govt reshuffles 'TVRI' management
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
The government as the shareholder of state television channel TVRI announced on Tuesday that there was a major reshuffle in the company, which includes the replacement of all its directors.
While announcing the reshuffle, the deputy to the state minister of state enterprises, Roes Ariawijaya, said the shakeup, stipulated in ministerial decree No. 191/MBU/2003, dated April 14, was needed in connection with the channel's status as a limited liability company.
Taking up the top executive post is Hari Sulistyono, who replaces Sumita Tobing as the president director. Accompanying Hari are John Guntar Sebayang as the finance director, Yazirwan Uyun as the personnel director, Enny Anggraeni Hardjanto as the director of news and programs, Herawaty Christiba Tobing as the technical director and Djamaris Njaman as the director of general affairs.
Hari is a relatively new face on the scene, compared to Sumita, who has been cultivating her career in television for 30 years. Hari's career in journalism includes leading the Lippostar news portal, which no longer exists.
Also raising many eyebrows is the appointment of Enny, a former Citibank vice president in Indonesia, for a post that needs ample experience in journalism.
The reshuffle has ended months of conflict between Sumita and her directors over her leadership, which, according to many, failed to make the station a self-reliant one. Sumita is also known for her consistency, including her refusal to let TVRI air Indian and Mandarin films.
On the board of commissioners, Abdurrahman Hudiono Dimas Wahab was named the president, with Gde Widiadnyana Merati, Budi Harsono, Pandu Jayanto, Dharma Bakti and Indra Jati Sidi named as the members.
Roes said the reshuffle was expected to help the state channel generate its own revenue and make a break from the state in terms of financing.
The government began to cut its subsidies to TVRI following the change of its status from perusahaan jawatan (a company financially dependent on the government but allowed to sell ads) to perusahaan terbatas (limited liability company no longer enjoying government subsidies) in April 2002. The acute financial crisis worsened, forcing some of its affiliated stations in major cities to halt operations.
Until last year, TVRI, which has 23 stations and 395 transmitters, had an annual budget of Rp 150 billion. Of that amount, Rp 70 billion was allocated to pay the salaries of more than 7,000 employees. The remaining amount was not enough to repair or maintain its transmitting equipment, let alone buy or make programs.