Debate over the much-awaited amendment to the air transportation law looks likely to heat up, with the Transportation Ministry resisting a request by lawmakers for an overhaul of the air safety watchdog.
Transportation Ministry officials seeking to maintain the status quo to protect their own interests have been accused of persuading policymakers to drop the proposal to turn the ministry's Air Safety Certification Directorate (DSKU) into an independent agency.
The proposal to turn the DSKU into an independent body was driven by the apparent lack of integrity among agency officials, according to Abdul Hakim, member of the House of Representatives Commission V for transportation, telecommunications and public works.
"Integrity and capacity problems are the main triggers for the call to take the DSKU out of the ministry. A reform program can be easily applied to an independent agency because we can root out all the rot and start all over again," he said.
As an independent body, the DSKU would be expected to receive a more flexible budget and higher remuneration packages for its inspectors, thus reducing the likelihood of collusion with airline officials.
A lawmaker in Commission V who asked not to be named told The Jakarta Post recently such issues were the most sensitive aspects in the amendment of the 1992 law.
The sensitivity is because the DSKU, which comes under the ministry's directorate general for air transportation, is one of the ministry's most lucrative agencies.
"It's just obvious. The DSKU is making money and a lot of people with vested interests in it will be severely disturbed by any reform within the directorate," said the lawmaker, who is actively involved in deliberating the bill.
The DSKU's tasks including issuing pilot licenses, aircraft operation certificates for new airlines and safety approvals, a function that can make or break an airline.
Poor reform of the DSKU is one of the reasons the European Commission (EC) unanimously decided to extend the ban on Indonesian airlines from flying to the region. The EC found the air transportation authorities' oversight system was inadequate.
The ban was first imposed in July last year.
The International Civil Aviation Organization also has questioned Indonesia's air transportation safety system, in particular the lack of aircraft surveillance activities and inspectors.
Indonesia National Air Carriers Association secretary-general, Tengku Burhanuddin, said he supported the proposal to make the DSKU into an independent agency as a way to improve its officials' professional behavior.
"Ideally, it should be independent. But we should think about who will fund their operation, especially inspectors' salaries. Airline operators will not contribute to this, that's for sure," he said.
Transportation Ministry spokesman Bambang S. Ervan said the ministry had requested the lawmakers maintain the current position and structure of the DSKU.
"We should just stick to the current working procedure," Bambang said, without elaborating further.
Deliberation of the bill, which had been left on the government's table for more than two years, began on June 2. The bill is scheduled to be endorsed early next year.
Key points in the bill:
1. Special air certification arrangements.
2. Consumer protection; compensation for passengers for delayed flights.
3. Airport operational certification.
4. Gradual liberalization in the airline industry.
5. Limited liberalization in the airport industry.
