Three House Factions Walk Out of Merpati Work Meeting

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta- A work meeting between State-owned Enterprises (SEO) Minister Dahlan Iskan and the House's Commission VI supervising SEO today was tense, with three House factions—the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), the National Mandate Party (PAN), and the United Development Party (PPP)—walked walked out of the meeting.

The meeting was held to discuss the fate of debt-ridden Merpati Nusantara Airlines.

The three factions rejected the decision made by Merpati's Working Committee that was delivered to SEO Minister Dahlan Iskan without a prior discussion with the House.

"We found mistakes committed by the management, and we have to look into it," said A. Muhajir, a member of Commission VI from PAN faction, on Monday, July 7, 2014.

Muhajir said Merpati's Working Committee had made recommendations to be discussed at the work meeting. But he did not expect that the government would only explain its form.

"We'd like to hear explanation from PT Perusahaan Pengelola Aset (Merpati's asset manager) about Merpati's condition," he said.

Erick Satria Wardhana, the chairman of the meeting, was baffled by the walk out decision made by his colleagues. He said that the working comittee had actually made the decision in a previous meeting on July 2.

"The PDI-P faction did not attend the previous meeting. So they didn't understand the issue," Erick said.

Although the recommendations were not read in an open meeting, Erick said, there was nothing to be covered. Journalists were allowed to have copies of the recommendations received by Dahlan Iskan.

In its recommendations, the House asks Dahlan Iskan to salvage the state-owned carrier, replace its board of directors, and review the company's debt.

ANANDA PUTRI