Erick Thohir Is Still Thinking About Disbanding Merpati Airlines, Why?

Pigeon Plane. (Photo: Doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - The Ministry of State-Owned Enterprises (BUMN) has confirmed the plan to dissolve the seven state-owned companies in 2021 because they are considered no longer contributing to the economy. One that is being discussed is the issue of the dissolution of PT Merpati Nusantara Airlines (Persero).

"Those BUMNs under PPA have been operating since 2008. We as leaders will do nothing if there is no certainty. BUMNs that are currently changing must be ready to compete. Moreover, those who have lost to compete," said Erick at the BUMN Ministry office, Jakarta, quoted from Antara, Wednesday, May 5.

Erick explained that the disbandment plan had indeed been planned for a long time, because the government wanted to take the right steps, as well as provide certainty for workers in the BUMN company.

To carry out the dissolution of this BUMN, he continued, the ministry through PT Asset Management Company (Persero) (PPA) will conduct a study or assessment first. Because in addition to dissolving, an option that can be carried out is also a synergy with other SOEs.

On the same occasion, Deputy Minister of BUMN Kartika Wirjoatmodjo said the ministry together with PPA would re-evaluate which BUMNs would be dissolved.

The assessment carried out, continued Tiko, Kartika's nickname, will be based on the company's assets, workforce and operations, including the settlement of liabilities.

According to him, several SOEs that will be dissolved include PT Kertas Kraft Aceh (Persero), PT Industri Glas (Persero) and PT Kertas Leces (Persero).

Tiko also mentioned PT Merpati Nusantara Airlines (Persero) which still has assets in the form of Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facilities in Surabaya, as well as obligations that still have to be settled.

For this reason, Merpati's entry as one of the SOEs to be dissolved will still be one of the considerations.

"Merpati still needs an assessment. There are loans and creditors that must be prepared. One of them is being reviewed because there is still an operation in East Java," he said.

Regarding the time when the BUMN was dissolved, Tiko said that it would be carried out at the latest in the second semester of 2021.