It Turns Out That This Is The Reason The DPR Asks For 80 Seats Of Garuda's Business Class

Illustration of Garuda Indonesia airline. (Photo: Doc. Antara)

YOGYAKARTA President Director of PT Garuda Indonesia Tbk Irfan Saputra mengungkapkan, DPR meminta disiapkan 80 kursi tambahan kelas bisnis untuk anggota DPR yang akan pergi haji tahun ini. Pihak Garuda belum bisa memastikan permintaan tersebut diberikan, karena harus meminta izin ke otoritas penerbangan Arab Saudi. Lantas, apa alasan DPR meminta bagian 80 kursi kelas bisnis Garuda Indonesia?

The Secretary General (Sekjen) of the DPR Indra Iskandar explained the reason why his party asked Garuda for 80 business class seats.

Indra said the request was submitted in the context of the supervisory function carried out by the DPR regarding the implementation of the pilgrimage.

"The Hajj team is divided into 2 teams, the supervision team for Hajj preparation and the supervision team for the implementation of the Hajj. So, we have arranged the scheduled departure of the supervisory team from the DPR," said Indra, quoting Kompas, Thursday, June 15, 2023.

Indra did not deny that it was he who contacted the President Director of Garuda Indonesia, Irfan Setiaputra, to ask for 80 seats in this business class. This is because his position is in charge of administration in the DPR.

Moreover, the DPR still has no certainty about the availability of seats to go to Mecca.

"I called the President Director of Garuda. Because he's my old friend. He often helps. I called, 'can you ask for help to find around 80 seats for the benefit of the DPR?' We have a budget to achieve for business class," said Indra.

"Until 3 days ago, we have not received an idea about our provider from his travel bureau not confirming the issue of flight seats to Mecca and Medina," said Indra again.

Indra said that the President Director of Garuda is still trying to provide 80 business class seats for DPR members who want to go for Hajj.

He said that not all of these 80 business class seats were for members of the DPR, but there was a support team from the secretariat.

Indra emphasized that the 80 business class seats requested by the DPR to Garuda Indonesia were not free.

"Members of the DPR are tasked with state duties. Where can anyone be free. If you want to go to heaven, you are told to pray, told to do charity, told to alms," said Indra.

Indra said the DPR would look for alternative foreign airlines if Garuda could not meet the request for 80 business class seats. However, the DPR still wants Garuda Indonesia to be the main choice.

"The alternative is that we have to come from foreign flights. If we all want Garuda. If Garuda doesn't get it, we will do it," said Indra.

Permintaan 80 Kursi Kelas Bisnis Garuda Tak Langgar UU

Member of Commission VI of the House of Representatives from the Golkar faction, Nusron Wahid, emphasized that the request for 80 business class seats to PT Garuda Indonesia for DPR members who will go for Hajj did not violate any laws.

"Is there a law that prohibits it? Yes, if no one forbids it," said Nusron at the DPR Building, Senayan, Jakarta, Wednesday, June 14, 2023.

He said, as long as the DPR pays for the plane seat, it is allowed and allowed.

According to Nusron, the DPR's request was not problematic, as long as no other passengers were harmed.

"It's just a matter of availability, whether there are passengers who have been canceled or not? If there are no passengers who have been canceled, no issue, right?" he said.

This is information about the reason the DPR asked for 80 seats in the Garuda Indonesia business class. To get other interesting news, keep reading VOI.ID.