Compared To The Handling Of Garuda Indonesia, The Former Pilots Of Merpati Have Unfair Values To Solve Their Problems

Member of Commission VI of the House of Representatives Herman Khaeron in a public discussion entitled 'The Tragic Fate of the Former Pigeon Pilot That Never Ends'. (Photo: Doc. Antara/Secretary General of DPR RI)

JAKARTA - The former Merpati Airlines pilots questioned why the government was so quick to resolve the Garuda Indonesia issue, while the Merpati Airlines issue seemed 'ignored'. Therefore, they feel that the state is unfair in solving the problems experienced by the state-owned company.

Representatives of former Merpati Pilot Muhammad Masikoer said they were disappointed when Garuda Indonesia faced problems, the state immediately attended by providing state capital participation.

As is known, PT Merpati Nusantara Airlines is still in arrears in severance payments for 1,233 former pilots and their employees with a total value of IDR 312 billion. In fact, the company has stopped operating since 2014.

"In fact yesterday there was the last time there was Garuda's equity participation, we also said why Garuda was so fast, why not Merpati. Even though this is about the problems of many people's lives," he said, in a public discussion entitled 'The Tragic Rise of Ex-Pilot Pigeons That Never Ends' in the Media Centre, Jakarta, quoted, Tuesday, 31 May.

In fact, according to Masikoer, his party also does not expect the holiday allowance (THR) to be paid. According to him, what is expected to be paid immediately are their salaries and severance pay. Including pension funds collected from salary deductions.

"We didn't even expect that, the THR was not paid, it's okay, but the money I collected from, I'm sorry I entered Merpati in 74 as a pilot student, I retired in 2019, so the period was around 45 years I was in Pigeons," he said.

However, in reality, the Asset Management Company (PPA) also did not provide a solution, and even seemed to throw away the body when suing for the Suspension of Debt Payment Obligations (PKPU). With the disbandment of Merpati, the former pilot did not get anything.

Masikoer explained that not a few former Merpati pilots were seriously ill and aging due to only relying on severance pay. Until now, the government has not provided a solution for the thousands of employees who have not received severance pay.

"Many of our friends have died, perhaps even that it is necessary to know that the former GM Merpati in Kupang is now only a cultivator of other people's land, sleeping in an inappropriate hut, some apologize for leaving their wife, some are massage workers, there was a go-jek, it was all Merpati officials, not ordinary employees," he said.

Masikoer said that his party had taken many ways. Starting from demanding rights to the Palace, KSP, Komnas HAM, KPK to the DPR, but until now there has been no clear point on the payment of their rights.

"Where else are you going, I don't know, if you want to tell me it doesn't feel good. So we ask the DPR for help on how to find the best solution," he said.

DPR asks the government not to avoid

Meanwhile, Member of Commission VI of the DPR, Herman Khaeron, said that his party had received a letter of request for RDPU to Commission VI of the DPR and listened to the reading of an open summons to the Ministry of SOEs so that their rights, especially severance pay, were immediately paid.

In fact, said Herman, Commission VI also continues to voice that the salaries and severance pay of former Merpati Airlines employees should be paid immediately.

"We at the DPR have repeatedly voiced that we must immediately settle obligations to employees, whether administrative, technical or pilot employees, because this is the main obligation that must be paid," said Herman.

Therefore, Herman again requested that the Ministry of SOEs under the leadership of Erick Thohir not avoid the issue of the former Merpati pilot, which has not yet been resolved.

Furthermore, Herman believes that SOE Minister Erick Thohir should resolve this priority issue. If it is not paid, said Herman, the government will have a very big sin.

"It's a huge sin, dzolim, I hope the sin doesn't spread to members of the DPR," he said.

Previously, on September 30, 2021, Erick Thohir assessed that there was no bankruptcy experienced by PT Merpati Nusantara Airlines (Persero). The main reason is that shareholders will liquidate the state-owned airline, because it has not operated since 2008.

According to him, companies that have not operated for a long time must have their problems resolved. Regarding employee severance pay and Merpati's assets, PT Danareksa (Persero) and PT Perusahaan Pengelola Asset (Persero) or PPA have also handled it.

Pension funds that have been closed have prevented former employees from receiving their pensions, even though during their work their salaries have been deducted for pensions. Meanwhile, the pigeon pension fund has been closed since January 2015, but the former employees who have retired since 2013 did not receive their pension.