Dialogika

In this episode, we discuss the recent Garuda smuggling scandal, which involved their president director Ari Askhara who had arranged for a vintage 1970s Harley Davidson, specialty Brompton foldable bikes, and their respective spare parts, to be smuggled into Indonesia through a Garuda plane, bypassing the appropriate taxes and the customs office. The level of corruption involved in making this operation happen implicated not only Askhara, but a lot of the directors and leaders in Garuda, prompting the new BUMN (State-Owned Enterprise) Minister Erick Thohir to fire Ari Askhara and suspend a number of Garuda directors. We talk about the audacity and ridiculousness of this scandal — not even Garuda’s first corruption scandal — not only because of how it unfolded, but also how apparent the wealth gap is and the insensitivity towards the life of the average Indonesian is coming from someone who is in charge of a national asset and is suppose to be somewhat serving the people. We discuss the responsibilities of a state-owned enterprise, and what this all means for Erick Thohir as he is just starting his job and asserting himself in this role.

Thanks for listening!

For those interested in learning more about the topic, we’ve provided links to resources as well as other recommended readings.

Garuda Indonesia boss faces dismissal after audit showed he bought smuggled Harley Davidson parts and Brompton bikes — courtesy of Coconuts Jakarta

Garuda Smuggling Scandal May Just Be the Tip of a Corruption Iceberg — courtesy of Jakarta Globe

Erick Thohir Copot Dirut Garuda Ari Askhara Karena Kasus Harley — courtesy of Tirto

Kasus Garuda Indonesia: Erick Thohir pecat sejumlah direktur terkait dugaan penyelundupan motor Harley Davidson — courtesy of BBC Indonesia

Akhirnya, Garuda Kena di Tangan Erick? — courtesy of Pinter Politik

‘Bersih-bersih’ Badan Usaha Milik Negara: ‘Masih banyak lagi yang harus dibersihkan, Erick jangan tebang pilih’ — courtesy of BBC Indonesia

Good governance matters — courtesy of Jakarta Post

 

 

 

MUSIC CREDITS:

SOUL HIGH by RYAN LITTLE

MONTMARTRE by JAHZAAR

NIGHT OWL and THE GREAT by BROKE FOR FREE