Danantara Ensures Placement Of Foreign Directors At Garuda Indonesia Is Legally Legal

JAKARTA - The Danantara Indonesia Investment Management Agency (BPI) ensures that the presence of expatriates or foreign nationals (WNA) in the management of PT Garuda Indonesia (Persero) Tbk is a legal practice.

Managing Director of Stakeholder Management and Communications of Danantara Indonesia, Rohan Hafas, said that the provisions of the legislation open up space for the placement of foreign workers in certain positions that require specific expertise and international experience.

"There is a clause that legally allows the appointment of foreign workers in certain positions," said Rohan at Wisma Danantara, Jakarta, Friday, October 31.

In addition, Rohan said the presence of foreigners in Garuda Indonesia's strategic position was a natural thing. Therefore, according to him, there is no need to worry.

Furthermore, Rohan also said that the presence of expatriates actually brings international experience and work standards that can be used as a reference in accelerating the process of improvement within Garuda Indonesia.

"He is professional, does not take care of the state, does not take political policy, and instead carries the example of a road map that has been undertaken to be imitated and monumented," said Rohan.

Previously, the placement of expatriates or foreign nationals (WNA) as leaders in State-Owned Enterprises (BUMN) became public attention, after President Prabowo Subianto previously revealed that he had changed the rules related to this matter.

CEO of Danantara Indonesia Rosan Roeslani said PT Garuda Indonesia (Persero) Tbk is an early example of implementing the policy. Currently, he said, the company is indeed carrying out a massive transformation.

In the Garuda Indonesia EGMS which was held on Wednesday, October 15, shareholders appointed two foreign nationals (WNA) as directors of the airline company Garuda Indonesia.

They are former Green Africa Airways boss Neil Raymond Mills, appointed Director of Garuda Indonesia Transformation, and Singapore Airlines official Balagopal Kunduvara, appointed as Director of Finance and Risk Management of Garuda Indonesia.

"If we look at the example of Garuda, this is the first to have a 25-year career at Singapore Airlines. The second is that it has been a very, very long career in Iberia Airlines, in three companies or four other airlines," he said when met in the South Jakarta area, Thursday, October 16.

"So that's what we are for the Chief of Transformation because a very significant transformation is needed from Garuda," he continued.

Rosan said management has a very important role in managing state-owned companies.

Therefore, he said, the government made changes through the Draft Law (RUU) on the Fourth Amendment to Law Number 19 of 2003 concerning State-Owned Enterprises (BUMN).

Lebih lanjut, Rosan menjelaskan, melalui perubahan itu, pemerintah membuka kesempatan bagi ekspatriat atau WNA asing untuk memimpin perusahaan pelat merah.

“Kita melihat bahwa manajemen memiliki peran yang sangat-sangat penting. Dan oleh sebab itu karena revisi undang-undang juga sudah dibuka, kita bisa menaruh ekspat di level manajemen dan dengan background yang sangat kuat ya,” tuturnya.

Furthermore, Rosan explained, through this change, the government opened up opportunities for foreign expatriates or foreigners to lead state-owned companies.

"We see that management has a very, very important role. And therefore because the revision of the law has also been opened, we can put the expat at the management level and with a very strong background," he said.