61.   Union officials argue that a merger would make it possible for state and local union officials to support reforms without fear of defection.

62.   Would the merger make TCI and Turner too dominant?

63.   Yet the merger would make Boeing a more formidable competitor against Airbus Industrie, the European manufacturer, for commercial aircraft contracts and against Lockheed Martin for military contracts.

64.   Others questioned whether bigger was better, and suggested the merger may make them more unwieldy.

65.   Analysts said a Piltel-Smart merger did not make sense since neither company had anything to gain from it.

66.   Deputy Finance Minister Datuk Dr Affifuddin Omar said a merger will make these companies financially stronger and more efficient operationally.

67.   Hence the merger would not make much difference to the biggercompanies.

68.   However, some members of the political opposition said such a merger would make the bank too powerful, and would hurt consumers in the end.

69.   However, the analyst said whether the mergers would make these finance companies more efficient is left to be seen.

70.   In a letter to the FTC, Deputy Defense Secretary John Deutch said the merger makes sense in an era of declining defense spending.