'Mr. CT Knows, But Can't Do Anything', Said Peter Gontha, Who Often Talks About Garuda Indonesia

Former Commissioner of Garuda Indonesia, Peter Gontha. (Mary Handayani/VOI)

JAKARTA - Former Commissioner of Garuda Indonesia, Peter F Gontha, revealed that so far the national entrepreneur and founder of CT Corp, conglomerate Chairul Tanjung (CT) as one of the largest shareholders of Garuda Indonesia has never asked about the problem with the state-owned airline. Peter said CT gave him full confidence.

Peter himself was appointed as Commissioner of Garuda representing the company's shareholder, namely, PT Trans Airways. The corporation owned by entrepreneur Chairul Tanjung holds 28.26 percent of Garuda's shares. However, last August, Peter was dismissed from the position.

Even so, Peter admitted that he always reports on the condition of Garuda Indonesia to CT. However, said Peter, CT never commented.

"Yes, of course (reporting). Mr. CT only handed it over to me, he never asked, he never commented. As long as I'm on the right track, Mr. CT, I'll just keep quiet", he said when met at the DPR Building, Parliament Complex, Senayan, Wednesday, December 1st.

Peter said that CT was aware of the problems within Garuda Indonesia. However, it cannot do anything because it is the majority shareholder who decides everything.

"Yes, Mr. CT knows, but also can't do anything", he said.

Peter also admitted that he had provided input to the directors of Garuda Indonesia in resolving the problems being faced. However, never heard of it.

"So actually, if I may be honest, my voice is not being heard. Even though we are shareholders who received direct cash (US$350 million) ourselves and lost to those who did not come out, they represent the truth", he explained.

For your information, currently, Garuda Indonesia bears a debt of IDR 139 trillion and assets of only IDR 98.3 trillion. Meanwhile, Garuda Indonesia's equity was also recorded at minus IDR 40.2 trillion with additional negative equity each month reaching IDR 1.3 trillion to IDR 2 trillion. Of the total value, the largest debt is to lessors, which reached IDR 90.2 trillion.

Previously, the President Director of PT Garuda Indonesia, Irfan Setiaputra, said that the company is currently focusing on continuing to take accelerated steps to restore performance. Mainly through a comprehensive restructuring program that is currently being completed.

"We have also intensified these efforts through various efforts, supporting steps to improve Garuda Indonesia's performance fundamentally, especially from the basis of flight operations", he said.

Irfan also admitted that he was optimistic that Garuda's performance would improve again. Moreover, with the positive signal of the national aviation industry in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic situation which is now under control. This includes the opening of Indonesia's leading tourism sectors, such as Bali and the Riau Islands, which have been open since October 14.

"This is an important momentum in the steps to improve performance, which we are currently optimizing with all relevant stakeholders", he said.