PT National Gobel
We refer to your article: Companies to face trial over toxic waste on Dec. 16, 2003, which was written by Leony Aurora. It was mentioned that a Company named PT Nasional Panasonic Gobel Indonesia was one of the companies being accused by Public Interest Environmental Lawyers (PIEL) over a violation of Government Regulation No. 18/1999 on the treatment of hazardous and toxic waste.
Around 1.5 years ago, a similar case occurred in the East Jakarta Court. However, that time it was the citizens of Munjul, East Jakarta, suing UD Kurnia (in a criminal action) for contaminating watercourses and the air in Munjul. PT National Gobel was one of the companies that used UD Kurnia as a contractor for the disposal of its non-toxic waste up to April 1, 1998. Based on the East Jakarta Court verdict on June 25, 2002, the owner of UD Kurnia was convicted and sentenced accordingly. It was clear that PT National Gobel never disposed of toxic waste via UD Kurnia.
PT National Gobel is one of the Group Companies of Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. Ltd., Japan. PT National Gobel was the first joint venture company between pioneers of the Japanese and Indonesian electronics industry -- Matsushita and Gobel. Since its first establishment in 1918 in Japan and 1970 in Indonesia, the commitment to "developing people before products" has always been their first priority. In line with this, the Group Companies made an official statement in 1991 to help preserve the environment so as to ensure people and social sustainability in the future.
Since then, the Matsushita Group of Companies has established, and is continuously improving, solid and sound procedures to make sure that processes, products and services are environmentally safe. The most recent company policy is the Green Plan 2010 under which it is envisaged that by 2010 all Matsushita Group Companies in the world will have green products, clean factories, green procurement and distribution, and will carry out environmental social responsibility duties.
The procedures for the purchase of materials, the use of materials, and the handling of waste, both toxic and non-toxic, up to after-sales service are detailed and specified to comply with Government Regulations and Matsushita Standards. PT National Gobel always submits monthly reports to the government and the Jakarta Environmental Control Agency (BPLHD). PT National Gobel is an ISO 9001 and 14001 certified company.
Our unstinting efforts have been appreciated by the Government of Indonesia. We have received awards for our performance in treating waste water from the Governor of Jakarta for 4 consecutive years starting in 2000, blue category awards for Proper Prokasih and vehicle emissions, the Kalpataru Award in the Pembina Lingkungan category, and top place in the 2002 Kementrian Lingkungan Hidup (KLH) competition on the handling of vehicle emissions. Internally, PT National Gobel received Clean Factory Awards in the World Matsushita Environment Competition in 2000 and 2001.
For your information, in the Matsushita Group of Companies there are no companies named PT Nasional Panasonic Gobel Indonesia or PT Nasional Gobel Indonesia.
YANTI ANWAR Director PT National Gobel Jakarta