Anies appoints former Merpati Airlines CEO to helm Transjakarta

Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan has named the former head of state-owned Merpati Nusantara Airlines, Sardjono Jhony Tjitrokusomo, as the new president of city-owned bus operator Transjakarta to replace the previous chairman, who was implicated in fraud. 

The secretary of the Jakarta development body for city-owned companies, Riyadi, said the decision had been made during Transjakarta's shareholders meeting on Wednesday. Sardjono had been elected to helm the company because of his experience in the transportation sector.

Riyadi said the city administration had high expectations of Sardjono to improve Transjakarta services and accelerate the integration of public transportation in the capital city through Jakarta’s flagship program Jak Lingko.

“He has the [necessary] competence and experience in the transportation business. He has served as CEO of Merpati Airlines and also as a director at Angkasa Pura I,” Riyadi said as quoted by kompas.com referring to the state-owned airport operator.

Before serving as Merpati president director for two years from May 2010 to May 2012, Sardjono was a senior pilot for United Arab Emirates flag carrier Etihad Airways.

Starting Wednesday, he filled the highest position at Transjakarta, which had been vacant since January.

On Jan. 23, Anies had appointed Donny Andy S. Saragih to lead Transjakarta, replacing previous boss Agung Wicaksono.

However, Donny was sacked only five days after his appointment following revelations of his criminal record. The former employee of private transportation company PT Lorena Transport was found to have cooperated with another employee, Porman "Andi" Tambunan, in 2018 to blackmail then-Lorena president director Gusti Terkelin Soerbakti, demanding a total of US$250,000. Soerbakti filed a lawsuit against the two at the Central Jakarta District Court, which found them guilty of fraud. (vny)