Sale of SOEs supported

By HELEN TARAWA
A TRADE union has called on the Government to sell the subsidiaries of Telikom PNG Limited.
PNG Communication Workers Union president Nug Mamtirin and general secretary Michael Ipai were responding to a plan by the Kumul Consolidated Holdings Limited (KCHL) to sell state-owned entities not making money.
“The merger of Telikom PNG, bmobile and Dataco under Kumul Telikom Holdings tried to convince the general public into believing that it will enhance competitiveness of the telecommunication business sector,” they said in a statement.
“The merger is deemed illegal. bmobile and Dataco are cash-strapped and depend on Telikom PNG.”
The union recommends that all Telkom retail and wholesale businesses be integrated and for KCHL to appoint board members with sound management skills and experience to save Telikom PNG Ltd.
It said Telikom used to pay dividends regularly to the Government every year but the change in board members and management affected its performance.
“Bad business decisions by the Telikom management and board (resulted in the) selling of its properties and increasing by 35 per cent rental fees to staff living with their families in Telikom homes.”