President Director Susi Air: Malinau Regency Government Plans Expulsion

The owner of Susi Air, Susi Pudjiastuti. (Photo: Doc. Susi Air)

JAKARTA - The President Director of Susi Air, Zulkarnain Adinegara, condemned the act of forcibly evicting the plane from the Malinau Hangar, which was carried out by the Manilau Regency Government. He considered that the forced eviction had been planned.

The reason, said Zulkarnain, was that his party had communicated by sending a letter to extend the hangar rental permit. However, according to him, the Regent of Malinau said that Susi Air had never applied for the extension.

"There's something a bit strange here. What could be speculations as to whether activities that were deliberately planned might 'repel' us," he said in a virtual press conference, Friday, February 4.

According to Zulkarnain, the Susi Air flight service in Malinau is not just a business. However, as a form of service to the public and the wider community who need air transportation modes to support their activities.

"We have been there, Susi Air, for 10 years. So far, there have been no problems. It should be noted, Susi Air does business in aviation, but specifically in Malinau and North Kalimantan, it is not only our pure business, but there we are really taking steps "Public service steps. Serving the community in North Kalimantan, Tarakan and surrounding areas as well as Malinau," he said.

So far, Zulkarnain said, Susi Air has 16 flight trips serving passengers and 5 trips for cargo or goods services.

For the North Kalimantan region, said Zulkarnain, the majority of Susi Air serves for pioneering activities that help keep the outermost air isolated and there is no other mode of transportation except flights.

"Suddenly, we have been running for 10 years, yesterday it was done like that (forced evictions), that's why we said it was an act that shouldn't be done. There should be steps that need to be communicated," he said.

According to Zulkarnain, at the time of the eviction, the company was carrying out aircraft maintenance in the hangar. So that forced transfers cannot be carried out, especially without clear documents with legal force.

"Once again, we deeply regret it in the context that it should not be done. Because (Susi Air) provides public services and we are currently maintaining aircraft," he said.