Dahlan Iskan's Dizzy When Trying To Save Merpati Nusantara

One of the aircraft made in China, Xian M-60 operated by Merpati Nusantara Airlines. (Wikimedia Commons)

The presence of Merpati Nusantara Airlines was once considered the answer to limited access to air transportation in Indonesia. The route that cannot be passed by Garuda Indonesia's red plate airline belongs to Merpati. The pioneering flight routes in Kalimantan and Papua, especially.

Financial and debt problems also dim Merpati's existence in the 2010s. The Minister of SOEs, Dahlan Iskan, was confident. He didn't want to be disturbed. Even though he was dizzy. He acted like a Merpati savior. His management was overhauled. The officials were replaced. However, everything is in vain.

Not much air transportation is reliable in the early phase of Indonesia's independence. The only one that exists --perhaps to be -- is only Garuda Indonesia Airways. Garuda's dream is big. The state-owned company wants to connect the entire archipelago via air.

Far from being burned. Garuda Indonesia has problems. Cities that can be accommodated by large planes belonging to Garuda Indonesia are limited. The owner of the power of attorney did not remain silent. As a tactic, the Indonesian Air Force (AURI) was involved.

The AURI's initial projection with its plane could be a pioneer flight bridge in Kalimantan, then Papua. The study brought results. AURI's move was appreciated by many parties. The government, which was attracted and replaced the role of AURI by establishing a new company in 1962.

State Company (PN: Now called BUMN), Merpati Nusantara, his name. Since then Merpati has been plotted a lot to fill domestic flight spaces. From Kalimantan to Papua. The government is also aggressively increasing the Fleet. The management continues to be updated.

Merpati had changed status from PN to Persero. Therefore, Merpati became the number two important airline after Garuda. The development achieved was not without problems. Moreover, starting into the 2000s era. Merpati 'like other airlines' had several accidents.

The accident made the trust of the financiers and Merpati users began to decline. This condition was exacerbated by Merpati's management, which often could not read the momentum. The routes that are generally wanted to be controlled by Merpati were previously private airlines, such as Susi Air. Debt accumulated and Merpati later like suspended animation.

On August 2, 2009, a Merpati Twin Otter crashed in the mountains in Papua, killing all 13 passengers and three crew members. On May 7, 2011, Merpati's Xian MA60 aircraft with the registration code PK-MZK also crashed in Kaimana waters, killing all 21 passengers and six crew members.

The accident also made a number of parties question Merpati's decision to order Xian MA60, as well as suspect that there was a price inflated and collusion in the ordering process. In October 2011, Pertamina stopped the supply of avtur to Merpati in Surabaya and Makassar, due to debt purchases of avtur worth Rp 270 billion, so Merpati's operation at both airports was stopped," explained Arista Atmadjati in the book 61 Years of Flying Serving Indonesia, 2014 Merpati Distik Mati (2023).

The Minister of SOEs from the 2011-2014 era, Dahlan Iskan, did not necessarily surrender to Merpati. For him, Merpati deserved to be saved. Merpati was then given the opportunity to take the air. Dahlan tried to play the breakthrough which first succeeded in serving as President Director of PLN in the 2009-2011 era.

The downsizing is being perpetuated. Officials he considered incompetent were immediately fired. The management is trying to update it. The new invertor was looking for it. Dahlan is confident that his recitation brought real results for Merpati. In fact, Dahlan's steps were on the spot.

He is increasingly dizzy by the debt burden owned by Merpati. Moreover, the government is already biological and continues to inject large funds into Merpati. Dahlan assessed that Merpati is often bigger a stake than a pole. The expenditure is greater than income.

Ogah gave up, the problem made him continue to actively find solutions. Every time there is free time, even on holidays all Merpati directors are invited to have a meeting, as he did in March 2012. This step was taken to provide solutions. Even so that Merpati can get touched by contemporary and big profits.

Dahlan deliberately withheld funds amounting to Rp561 billion injections from the government for Merpati. So that all Merpati ranks participate in providing ideas. In fact, Dahlan offered a new car from his personal pocket for the best idea. The presentation made all Merpati officials throw lots of ideas.

The ideas collected reached 53 ideas. In fact, the recitation offered a car without making much change to Merpati. After two years, or on February 1, 2014, Merpati actually suspended all flights. The problem is as it is common knowledge.

Not far from financial problems and various debts. Then, Merpati slowly began to lose due to time.

"Incidentally, I also only wore a t-shirt and sports pants. I haven't showered yet. I just finished exercising with 30,000 employees and the family of Bank Rakyat Indonesia (BRI) throughout Jakarta commemorating their 116th birthday, which was excited. Moving from BRI's event to Merpati that morning feels like moving from heaven to Marunda.."

From a company whose profit is Rp. 14 trillion to a company whose losses are endless. From the course of operation Merpati has lost a lot. Especially if you add debt burdens. Every month the income is only Rp. 133 billion. The expenditure is Rp. 178 billion. The plane is old. Once new, MA60 too. The atmosphere of work at Merpati is like a company that is not expected," explained Dahlan Iskan in the book Manufacturing Hope, Bisa! (2012).