Cool! Java Jazz Boss Peter Gontha Asks To Stop His Salary As Commissioner: Given Garuda Indonesia's Critical Finances

Commissioner of PT Garuda Indonesia Tbk. Peter F. Gontha (center) some time ago. (Photo: Doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - Member of the Board of Commissioners of PT Garuda Indonesia Tbk Peter F. Gontha filed a request to stop paying the honorarium for the position he held at the national airline. This information was conveyed by Peter through his Facebook page on Wednesday, June 2 at around 07.00 WIB.

“Since the company is a public and historic company that belongs to us all, I feel I need to say this openly,” Peter wrote.

In the upload, he also includes a copy of an official letter addressed to the Board of Commissioners of Garuda Indonesia with a copy to the company's finance director.

"Given that Garuda's finances are becoming increasingly critical, we as members of the Board of Commissioners are very aware of the causes of this incident," he said.

In the document Peter also includes seven reasons why the State-Owned Enterprises (BUMN) are experiencing a fairly heavy financial condition.

First, Garuda said that Peter did not save on operational costs. Two, the absence of information regarding the method and narrative of negotiations with the lessor (the party providing the aircraft charter). Three, there is no evaluation or flight change for the losing route.

Fourth, cash flow management that cannot be understood. Fifth, the decision was taken by the Ministry of SOEs unilaterally without coordination and without involving the board of commissioners. Six, the commissioner's advice is therefore not needed. And the last one is the commissioner's activity which is therefore only 5-6 hours per week.

"So we ask, by easing the company's burden a little, to immediately start in May 2021, whose payments are indeed postponed, stop paying our monthly honorarium until the next General Meeting of Shareholders (GMS)," he said.

At the end of the letter memo, the initiator of the Java Jazz music event hopes that other colleagues can follow his steps as part of his social responsibility.

"This decision is clear and may serve as an example for others to be aware of the critical condition of the company," said Peter in his letter dated June 2, 2021.