VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Credit rating agency Fitch affirmed Indonesia’s sovereign credit rating at BBB (investment grade) with a stable outlook on November 22, 2021, Bank Indonesia (BI) reported.

“The affirmation of Indonesia’s rating at BBB with stable outlook reflects recognition from Fitch, as one of the world’s leading credit rating agencies, over the macroeconomic stability and financial system of Indonesia that remain manageable,” BI Governor Perry Warjiyo said in a written statement released on Tuesday.

In addition, it also indicates strong prospects for the domestic economy in the medium term amid uneven global economic recovery and uncertainty about the global financial market, he added.

The strong prospects for the domestic economy are inseparable from credible policy and synergy between the central bank and the government in the policy mix, he said.

Looking ahead, the central bank will keep observing global and domestic economic developments, take the necessary steps to ensure macroeconomic stability and financial system, and synergize with the government to expedite national economic recovery, Warjiyo said.

Fitch’s affirmation of Indonesia’s credit rating is based on good prospects for the nation's economic growth in the medium term and the low ratio of the government’s debts to the national gross domestic product (GDP), he informed.

However, Fitch has highlighted several challenges that may cast a shadow on the nation's economic prospects, including high dependence on external financing, low government revenues, and several structural features, such as per capita GDP and governance indicators lagging behind other countries that have the same rating, he pointed out.

With a decline in COVID-19 cases after a spike in June-August 2021, Fitch has seen potential for the Indonesian economy to grow higher than the previous forecast of 3.2 percent given the improving mobility of the public and the high prices of export commodities, he said.

Fitch has forecast the Indonesian economy will expand by 6.8 percent in 2022 and continue to grow by 6 percent in the succeeding years due to the positive impact of the Job Creation Law on rising investment, he added.

On the fiscal side, Fitch has expressed the hope that the implementation of harmonized tax laws will help the government in returning the fiscal deficit to below 3 percent of the GDP in 2023, he noted.

Thus, the fiscal deficit is projected to reach 5.4 percent in 2021 and decline further to 4.5 percent in 2022, lower than the government-set target of 5.8 percent in 2021 and 4.9 percent in 2022, he added.  (Antaranews)

The Education, Culture, Research, and Technology Ministry has continued to encourage university students to help the government in carrying out disaster mitigation, specifically the COVID-19 pandemic, Nizam, an official from the ministry, has stated.

"During that time, we have mobilized 15 thousand students to help communicate, educate, and conduct various efforts to handle this pandemic," he informed during a seminar here on Tuesday.

The ministry has continued to urge students to innovate by carrying out applied research whose results could help in improving the COVID-19 situation, he said.

He highlighted several health devices and products that students could create such as ventilators, masks, robotics, and rapid tests.

Research conducted in universities has produced more than 100 innovations as of today that could accelerate the reduction of COVID-19 cases through mass production, Nizam said.

In addition to research, the ministry has also mobilized students to expand the scope of vaccinations, conduct disaster mitigation in various regions, and help the government in handling the issue of economic recovery, he noted.

"Right now, we are holding the Belajar Merdeka Kampus Merdeka (Freedom in Learning and Campus) program. One of its primary themes is economic recovery during our current pandemic," he elaborated.

He also said that his ministry has collaborated with the Social Affairs Ministry to provide funds to 5,400 students to help with the economic recovery in 540 districts or cities.

The ministry has also created the Kedaireka platform to recover Village-Owned Enterprises (BUMDes) and integrate students' research with stakeholders, he added.

"This is one of the efforts to recover the economy. In addition to economic recovery in villages, we also have the Wira Desa program and Village Empowerment and Mentoring Holistic Program (PHP2D) Real Work Lectures (KKN) to develop villages holistically," he affirmed. (Antaranews)

A policewoman's failure to intervene in a stabbing incident has re-ignited a debate over passive policing in South Korea, with some leading conservatives saying the campaign to increase the number of female officers in the force has gone too far.

Stepping into storm caused by last week's incident in the city of Incheon, lawmakers from the ruling Democratic Party called on the national police chief on Tuesday to express their misgivings.

"The Police Act stipulates that the top priority is to protect people's lives and health, as well as to prevent and suppress crimes, but the Incheon incident was a complete retreat (by the officer)," lawmaker Oh Yeong-hwan said, according to Yonhap news agency.

On Monday, President Moon Jae-in said it was not a gender issue, but rather a matter of duty for the police to serve and protect the public.

According to reports, police had been responding to a complaint over a noisy neighbour. The man accused of being too noisy then stabbed a woman, who had complained about him, in the neck as she spoke to the female officer.

Rather than seeking to subdue the man, the policewoman, who was armed with at least a Taser, ran downstairs to seek help from her male partner, according to the reports.

The partner then used his Taser to subdue and arrest the man. Police would not confirm if either officer had a gun. The victim of the attack has remained in hospital after receiving emergency surgery, media reports said.

A petition launched by the victim's family calling for punishment of the police gathered more than 230,000 signatures in three days, passing a threshold needed to trigger a government response.

Such controversies have plagued South Korea's police for years. In 2018, officers armed with guns and batons were filmed standing by as seven people assaulted a man who eventually lost the sight in one eye from his injuries.

While excessive use of force by police can be a problem in some countries, like the United States, police in South Korea have been criticised for taking a passive approach despite manuals that empower them to use force if necessary, said Lee Yung-hyeock, a professor of police science at Konkuk University.

"There is a clear lack of field training," he said, adding that the potential for criminal liability is also deterrent for officers using force, like Tasers.

National Police Commissioner General Kim Chang-yong apologised for the incident on Sunday and removed the head of the regional police station. An internal investigation has been ordered into the conduct of the two officers.

Lee Jun-seok, the head the conservative People Power Party, seized on the case on Monday, saying gender equality measures may be weakening the force.

Hiring practices adopted to boost the number of female recruits should be ended to help ensure that police officers are hired only on merit, said Lee, who has loudly criticised feminism and equality programs, saying they had gone too far.

South Korea aims to raise the number of policewomen to 15% of the 130,000-strong force in 2022, up from 13.4% as of December 2020.

The police announced plans in June to upgrade assessment for physical fitness when hiring policewomen and match the standards for men after criticism of double standards. (Reuters)

Taiwan will respect the outcome of the Honduras election but the country should be aware of getting sucked in by China's "false" promises, the foreign ministry said on Tuesday ahead of a vote which could see Taipei lose a steadfast ally to Beijing.

Honduras is one of only 15 countries that still maintain formal diplomatic ties with Chinese-claimed Taiwan. The two have a relationship dating back to 1941, before the Republic of China government fled to Taiwan after losing the Chinese civil war.

But poll leader Xiomara Castro, of the leftist opposition Libre Party, says she plans to open relations with China if elected, giving Beijing another foothold in what is traditionally the U.S. back yard.

Taiwan Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Joanne Ou told reporters that based on democratic principles they would respect the outcome of the election, but would also strengthen communication with all sides in Honduras including the opposition.

"We will continue to explain, and let them know, that only Taiwan is a partner worthy of trust for Honduras. At the same time we will remind Honduras to pay attention to China's flashy and false promises."

Outgoing Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez visited Taiwan earlier this month and met Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen, saying he hoped his country would continue its friendship with Taiwan.

China has been gradually whittling away at Taiwan's remaining allies, especially in its former stronghold of Central America, where Taiwan now only has official relations with Honduras, Guatemala, Nicaragua and Belize.

China's efforts have alarmed and angered Washington, which is concerned about Beijing's growing international influence.

Pacific island nations Kiribati and the Solomon Islands were the last countries to cut ties with Taipei in September 2019.

China views democratically ruled Taiwan as one of its provinces with no right to the trappings of a state.

Taiwan says it is an independent country called the Republic of China, its official name, and that Beijing has no right to speak for it. (Reuters)