Holiday allowance for legislators

In line with the steps of Indonesia's reform across all fields, we feel we have acquired the courage to comment on matters related to members of the House of Representatives (DPR) as follows:

Early in December 2000 PT (Persero) Angkasa Pura II received visitors from Commission IV of the DPR which is in charge of Communication Affairs. With careful preparation we welcomed the honorable legislators and naturally expressed our grudges with an expectation that they be forwarded to the DPR for the purpose of helping state enterprises in general, particularly PT (Persero) Angkasa Pura II.

Following the official meeting, the honorable legislators were to return to the DPR building. But at the end of the meeting we were astounded when the visiting legislators indicated to us that we were expected to give them some form of holiday allowance (popularly known as THR). Reluctantly our finance director tried to give them the said "THR".

Not long afterwards, on Dec. 21, 2000 Commission IV of the DPR made another visit to Soekarno-Hatta airport, this time to the main branch office. This visit was similar to the previous one and its goal was not clear. The visit's outline was aimed at seeing how far advanced our preparation was for the privatization of the Soekarno-Hatta airport. But the questions and discussions were not focused on the plan indicated. More conspicuous was that at the end of the visit the visiting Commission through its protocol officer again indicated that a sort of "THR" be given to all the members of Commission IV. Eventually the request was fulfilled by the Branch Office head with some reluctance.

The two visits made us think that the attitude and conduct of the current DPR is similar to, or the same as, that of the New Order era. An "invisible cost" or tribute still applies, and it must still be made available. It is difficult to know what would happen were these requests not fulfilled. Whereas PT (Persero) Angkasa Pura II's Board of Directors and the heads of branches and their staff always demand honesty and hard work to eradicate the practice of corruption, collusion and nepotism (KKN), these legislators appear not to follow our example. To meet the legislators' request we have to create an "engineering" of spending, because we cannot possibly create an expenditure account called "THR" for legislators. If the conditions are as I have mentioned, how can we run a state-owned enterprise committed to contributing to society by boosting the economy of the state and nation?

So far PT (Persero) Angkasa Pura II with its structural organization has tried to do its best to run this state-owned enterprise correctly, and this can be proven by the level of profits it has gained of which it is proud.

With this letter we hope to appeal to all competent authorities that they overcome such malpractices. The board of directors and heads of branches are prepared to be replaced if they are considered incapable of running this state-owned enterprise.

Don't let us be conditioned to meet the desires and needs of the Ministry of Communications, Ministry of Finance, development and financial control board, DPR and other institutions. We always work professionally to try to completely wipe out KKN practices in any shape or form.

We hope this letter will receive a positive response and follow up from competent authorities.

JONI SUTJAHJONO

Jakarta