Minister summons Merpati president over refusal

JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Transportation Haryanto Dhanutirto has summoned Merpati's president Ridwan Fataruddin in response to Ridwan's widely-publicized refusal to lease CN-235 aircraft made by the state-owned aircraft manufacturer.

A source at Haryanto's office said yesterday that the 30- minute personal meeting was held on Wednesday, shortly before the minister left for Germany and Brunei.

On Tuesday, Haryanto also met with Merpati directors, but Ridwan was absent because of his health, the Antara new agency reported yesterday.

Both meetings were held as the two parties, Haryanto and Merpati, aired their different opinions of Merpati's plan to lease 16 locally-made CN-235-200s.

Rumors had been spreading that Ridwan would soon be fired as Merpati's top executive.

Ridwan told reporters recently that the airline had decided not to lease the CN-235-200 aircraft because the leasing fees, set at US$110,000 per month per plane, being asked by private leasing firm PT Arthasaka Nusaphala were too high. Meanwhile, the 14 CN-235-10s currently in operation have been causing the airline to lose money due to high operation costs.

Haryanto criticized Ridwan's statement, saying: "It was premature because negotiations about the proposed financing packages were still underway."

Haryanto earlier criticized Merpati, a subsidiary of the national flag carrier Garuda Indonesia, for operating the CN-235- 10s inefficiently. The minister said that Merpati's debts are now equivalent to 11 times its capital.

Ridwan denied the charge, saying that Merpati's debt had not reached that level because the 14 CN-235s were purchased by the government.

"The 14 CN-235-10s currently operated by Merpati are government equity. The finance ministry has paid IPTN Rp 239 billion for the airplanes," Ridwan said.

Merpati's debt is now comprised mostly of current, short-term liabilities which are manageable, Ridwan added.

"The current liabilities are at a normal level. They may fluctuate from one month to another as they consist of such obligations as landing fees," he said.

Ridwan said he had suggested that the government buy the 16 CN-235-200s and transfer them to Merpati as new equity, as the government had done earlier with the 14 CN-235-10s.

He said that such an arrangement would help Merpati maintain sound financial condition and enhance its growth. (icn)