JAKARTA, Feb 28, 2022 - (ACN Newswire) - In October 2021, former Garuda Indonesia commissioner Peter Ghonta took the lid off various problems brewing in the company.
Gontha urged the State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) Ministry to dismantle past cases of alleged corruption in the company related to aircraft leasing.

He cited issues related to powerful groups in the company and the price difference between Boeing 777-300ER aircraft rental and CRJ1000 aircraft purchase.

Ghonta spoke of having reported the problems to several institutions ranging from the director-general of the Ministry of Law and Human Rights to the chairman of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK).

State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) Minister Erick Thohir then filed a report on an alleged graft case in the financially beleaguered state-owned airline PT Garuda Indonesia (Persero) to the Attorney General's Office.

The report outlines the government's plan to restructure Garuda Indonesia as well as provides evidence regarding the procurement of ATR 72-600 aircraft.

We provide evidence from the investigative audit, so it is not an accusation, he asserted.

For the past two years, Garuda Indonesia had faced a financial storm due to past mismanagement that caused the company's debt to swell to more than Rp140 trillion, Thohir remarked.

Meanwhile, Thohir noted that the Garuda Indonesia case was not just about an aircraft but pertaining to an ecosystem.

He encouraged the Garuda Indonesia case to be resolved, as it was impossible to buy or rent an aircraft without a business plan and without calculating flight routes.

In the absence of such a calculation, Garuda ultimately paid the aircraft rental fee of up to 28 percent to the lessor as compared to only eight percent to other airlines' aircraft lessors.

"Hence, there is a system and there is a solution, so that in the future, Garuda will not repeat similar cases again since due to no management, the loss will also affect the people, in the form of expensive tickets," he pointed out.

In addition, the SOEs Ministry has taken steps to restructure and salvage the state-owned airline.

The ministry will focus on transforming the airline to make it more accountable, professional, and transparent.

More than 470 creditors have submitted claims of up to US$13.8 billion, or equivalent to Rp198 trillion, to Garuda Indonesia as of January 5, 2022, as part of a debt recast.

The figure has been cited by Garuda Indonesia's Suspension Debt Payment Obligation (PKPU) team, Thohir remarked.

After the verification is completed, the PKPU team will take a decision on January 19, 2022, regarding the amount considered to be valid and can be included in the restructuring process, he remarked.

The Garuda management had earlier submitted a proposal to reduce its liabilities by more than 60 percent, from US$9.8 billion to US$3.7 billion through restructuring.

The proposal aimed to help the company survive amid the COVID-19 pandemic that has protracted for two years.

Save Garuda

Commission VI of the Indonesian House of Representatives formed a working committee to rescue national carrier Garuda Indonesia.

"In principle, the Committee for Rescuing Garuda is a follow-up to the three work meetings undertaken by Commission VI with the SOEs minister, deputy ministers, and the Garuda Indonesia Board of Directors," Head of the Committee for Rescuing Garuda Martin Manurung stated.

Manurung explained that the working committee will work not only to look for management issues within the state-owned airline but also to explore options offered by the government.

The deputy chairman of Commission VI stated that the formation of the working committee was also a form of political support for Commission VI of the Indonesian House of Representatives for Garuda Indonesia to stay afloat.

"We want Garuda Indonesia, as a national flag carrier, to be able to stay in the air, to be able to fly, as an airline of national pride," Manurung noted.

Meanwhile, State-Owned Enterprises Minister Erick Thohir expressed support for the establishment of a working committee by Commission VI of the House of Representatives (DPR RI) to rescue and reform national carrier Garuda Indonesia.

Establishment of the working committee is proof of DPR RI's concrete support and commitment to monitoring the state-owned airline's rejuvenation process, the minister noted.

The political support that the legislature has exhibited would be key to rescuing the flag carrier, the minister noted while adding that his ministry is committed to cooperating with the parliament's working committee for seeking solutions to remedy issues that have plagued the national airline.

The ministry will also inform the working committee, which will monitor the airline's restructuring and reform progress, about Garuda Indonesia's future business and reform plan, he added.

The State-Owned Enterprises Ministry cannot rescue the airline alone, and we need to collaborate with relevant stakeholders, including DPR RI's Commission VI, in mending Garuda Indonesia, Thohir remarked.

Transforming Garuda Indonesia is a must to ensure the flag carrier survives amid the economic uncertainty posed by the COVID-19 pandemic and to ascertain that it records positive performance after the pandemic, he noted.

The ministry has also collaborated with the Attorney General's Office to investigate allegations of corruption by the airline management in the past, the state firm minister remarked.

Thorough reforms in the law enforcement and business aspects are expected to bolster Garuda Indonesia's performance to become more accountable, professional, and transparent in the future, Thohir affirmed.

Jiwasraya, Pension Fund

Efforts to eradicate corruption by the minister are also being made in the insurance business sector.

Thohir revealed that the completion of Jiwasraya's mega scandal case provided a solution for the aggrieved parties.

"However, what distinguishes us from other corruption cases is that the Jiwasraya case has a solution for those who were harmed. It is not a pending case for which there is no explanation. Those who were harmed will be recompensated for their losses," Thohir stated.

The minister drew attention to no solution being found to this day in several cases of corruption in pension funds and insurance. No refund was offered to the cheated parties.

For instance, the case of illegal online loans where no perpetrators or masterminds had yet been revealed and no refund was provided to the victims and deceived parties.

Thohir affirmed that the collaboration was necessary to solve the Jiwasraya case.

President Joko Widodo gave directions that the Jiwasraya case should be solved immediately.

After looking at the facts and evidence, an audit investigation from the Development Finance Comptroller (BPKP) and a report from the Supreme Audit Agency (BPK), the Ministry of SOEs officially reported the Jiwasraya case to the Attorney General's Office.

"The Ministry of SOEs does not want to become trapped in legal problems, and it focuses on corporate issues," the minister stated.

In addition, Thohir will fix pension funds in state-owned enterprises comprehensively this year.

The pension fund has become a breeding ground for corruption, with the pensioners' bills not being paid in the end, he pointed out.

To this end, the minister of SOEs urged Commission VI of the Indonesian House of Representatives to jointly conduct a focus group discussion on exposure regarding pension funds.

"We are ready, but we cannot clean it up right away, as there is a binding law. Hence, the Ministry of SOEs cannot intervene," Thohir noted.

Meanwhile, he remarked that comprehensive improvement in pension funds in the state firm became one of the SOE Ministry's programs in 2022.

The existence of state-owned companies aims to provide the greatest profits to the state.

Thereafter, the profits will be channeled back through various programs for the people, starting from infrastructure development to welfare improvement, and others.

There is no place for corruption within SOEs.

The accountability, transparency, and anti-graft approaches must continue to be implemented to build prosperous SOEs.

(c) ANTARA 2022. Reporter: Azis Kurmala; Editor: Sri Haryati
ANTARA/HO-Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources/pri

Copyright 2022 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. www.acnnewswire.comIn October 2021, former Garuda Indonesia commissioner Peter Ghonta took the lid off various problems brewing in the company.

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NAY PYI TAW, MM, Feb 28, 2022 - (ACN Newswire) - The Ministry of Information (MOI) of the Union Government of Myanmar released today's remarks by the Minister of Information, Mr Maung Maung Ohn, addressing the domestic security situation, preparations for multi-party elections and foreign media perception.

"As you are aware, Myanmar Government is committed to maintaining friendly relationships with the media. Through your efforts you can share the true situation about Myanmar to the world.

Myanmar recently marked 2 major milestones. 2 February 2022 marked the anniversary of the formation of the State Administration Council (SAC) on 2 February 2021 after the Proclamation a day earlier. The second is the celebration of Union Day on 12 February 2022.

The Proclamation of 1 February 2021 was made following the failure to settle the issue of voter fraud list related to the 2020 elections, and subsequent postponement of Parliament sessions. The SAC has clearly stated that it is a caretaker government to carry out duties during a state of emergency.

The SAC has clearly stated to the people and to the international community that the Five-Point Road Map and Nine Objectives of the country were set out once it took the power of the State. It is performing its duties as a national responsibility, focusing on 2 main areas: national welfare and food security.

The SAC's interim role will end after a new government is formed following multi-party democratic elections which will be held by August 2023 under Article 429 of the 2008 Constitution. Indeed, these elections will serve as the foundation of Myanmar's democratic and political system.

Myanmar is a country with more than 130 ethnic groups among our population of 54 million people. Without such a firm foundation of proportional representation Myanmar will never achieve unity. That is the spirit of Union Day which we just celebrated on 12 February. Hence, this date is sacred to our nationhood.

Those who seek to divide Myanmar had tried to convene Parliament without addressing the fraud issue of the November 2020 elections. When the SAC was formed, they sought to discredit it. They have chosen a path of civil disobedience which has caused death, destruction and disruption of social and economic activity. Calling themselves the People's Defensive Force they have chosen terrorism and sought foreign support. And some foreign elements seem to have supported them and such acts of terrorism.

I want to address 3 issues at this media briefing.

* The first is to update on security matters from the viewpoint of the Government.

* The second is the media bias and the perception of Myanmar by the international community.

* The third relates to Proportional Representation and Preparations by The Union Election Commission for the coming elections.

- Security Matters -

The Government of the day has a duty to protect its citizens. Its security forces must prevent death, injury, destruction of property and disruption of social and economic activity. Its duty is to ensure peace and security.

Since the Proclamation the security forces have had to deal with clear acts of terrorism. Indeed, on 7 September 2021 the so-called National Unity Government (NUG) said it had launched a 'defensive war' and called for 'revolt' against the Government in 'every corner of the country'.

Government officers have suffered attacks which resulted in the deaths of 95 civil servants and many injured. 20 monks have been assassinated. 153 Government servants were injured. Acts of terrorism have led to the destruction of large number of public and government buildings. These include 525 roads and bridges, 27 hospitals and clinics, 504 schools and educational buildings were destroyed across the nation from 1 February 2021 to 20 January 2022.

All told, the Government recorded 9,437 terrorist attacks in the past year and seized 5,606 assorted arms, 161,556 rounds of ammunition, 1,890 grenades and 11,424 homemade mines and bombs.

The security forces have arrested 4,338 terrorists. Nonetheless, the SAC has, on humanitarian grounds, pardoned and released 48,718 persons who had been prosecuted for participating in protests due to the incitement of the so-called Committee Representing Pyidaungsu Hluittaw (CRPH) and the so-called National Unity Government (NUG). Those released include 23,369 inmates released on Union Day on 12 February 2022.

In preventing such violence, the security forces have had to carry out the duty. Please see for yourself the return to normalcy in all major towns and cities in the country. Yes, there are still terrorism incidents in some parts of the country but in general, the security forces have helped to achieve national stability that we see today.

- Media Perception -

Myanmar is friendly to the media. We have accredited many journalists from international media organisations. What we find troubling is the clear and persistent bias of certain foreign media towards terrorist groups. But these media are doing so without fully ascertaining the facts. The terrorists appear to have swayed sections of the foreign media who report without checking and repeat misinformation as truth.

Two specific incidents come to mind. The first is the incident at Thantlang, Chin State in October 2021 to early January 2022. The second is an incident at Phruso Township, Kayah State in December 2021.

In both instances, the so-called PDF and parties sympathetic to it initiated attacks with arms and committed arson against security forces. In the Kayah State incident, the terrorists hid among civilians, and fired a 107-mm rocket launcher before fleeing. I have to stress that these attacks were initiated by terrorists and not by the security forces who were then called to respond.

In the Chin State incident that occurred on 29 October 2021, some vehicles caught between the 2 sides involved in the fire fight were set ablaze. The security forces tried to engage the local firefighting brigade but its vehicles had already been damaged earlier by the terrorists and it could not extinguish the fire. The terrorists abducted, handcuffed and killed some members of the Border Guard Force and then fabricated a story that security forces were responsible.

Many of the stories were written by journalists from the Western media who were not even present in Myanmar at the time. Indeed, many of these writers are reporting from abroad. They rely on 'informants' or propaganda on social media. They carried pictures of the arson attacks and blame the incidents on security forces.

The Ministry of Information will do its best to communicate the role and actions of the Government. That we are meeting the media and taking questions shows you that we have nothing to hide. We hope that the international media adhere to the principles of good journalism when reporting on Myanmar.

- Preparing for Elections -

Myanmar has held multi-party democracy elections in 2010 and 2015 and will do so again by August 2023.

The SAC is committed to the concept of Federalism. By this we understand it as sharing authority with regions, states, ethnic groups and races in a spirit of unity and integration.

We need to achieve true Proportional Representation (PR) so that various political parties have a wider scale of representation. Even if different political parties have different interpretations and concepts of federalism, we must come together to select the political system through a democratic process.

That political system must recognise the wishes of the majority and the minority in achieving harmony. It must involve sharing of power to enable the regions and states to have the rights of self-administration under the Constitution. Power must be shared on a tripartite basis - the Union, the regions, and the states.

In line with these principles and objectives, the current Union Election Commission (UEC) held 4 meetings with Political Parties last year to implement the System of Proportional Representation that is voter-based and democratic. These meetings have been successful, and a Closed List Proportional Representation System will be used to ensure that the process is fair. To achieve this UEC is amending the relevant laws and rules, reorganizing sub-commissions and providing the necessary training.

Basic voter registration is being carried out in the Regions and States to complete the voter list. A pilot project to verify the ground census so as to ensure accuracy of the basic voter list is also being implemented by the relevant ministries. Hence, major preparations are underway to hold free and fair multi-party democratic general elections in accordance with the Constitution (2008).

We hope that the international community understands that Myanmar is committed to the democratic process. They should not be blinded by sections of the international media who are fixated on a certain narrative about the country.

Myanmar has friendly relations with many countries who understand our challenges and have extended help in the form of humanitarian assistance and regular dialogue without interfering in domestic affairs. They continue to invest in our country away from the glare of publicity.

But Myanmar also has countries that are not friendly to us. Some want to impose a set of values that are consistent with the negative perception of sections of the foreign media. Some of these actions verge on interference of our domestic affairs. We hope these countries can view Myanmar without the lens of a biased narrative and recognise our history and unique social-political fabric.

We are determined to purse the path to democracy to ensure unity and progress. Thank you."

Issued by Ministry of Information, Union Government of Myanmar.
For more information, please contact: [email protected] or [email protected]

Copyright 2022 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. www.acnnewswire.comThe Ministry of Information (MOI) of the Union Government of Myanmar released today remarks by Minister of Information, Mr Maung Maung Ohn, addressing the domestic security situation, preparations for multi-party elections and foreign media perception.