VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

VOINews, Jakarta - Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi has emphasized the management of ports and the enforcement of the ship's Automatic Identification System (AIS) requirement in Batam.

During his visit to the largest city in Riau Islands Province on Saturday, he stated that local officials responsible for port management should maintain good services and integrity, considering that they are at the forefront of one of the busiest sea routes globally.

"The ports in Riau Islands are relatively busy due to export-import activities and their proximity to the Strait of Malacca, an international trade route connecting neighboring countries Singapore and Malaysia," he said in a press release received on Sunday.

Sumadi expressed the need for enhancing the improvement and development of ports in Batam and its surrounding areas to optimize their operations and increase competitiveness.

He noted that the Batam region has six ports: Batu Ampar, Sekupang, and Kabil ports serving cargo and passenger boats, and Telaga Punggur, Batam Center, and Nongsa ports exclusively serving passenger boats.

He confirmed the development of a new port on Tanjung Sauh Island in Nongsa, Batam, which will be integrated with Tanjung Sauh Industrial Park, one of the projects designated as nationally strategic.

In addition to port management, Sumadi highlighted the enforcement of AIS implementation on ships operating in the region.

He urged the Batam Harbour Master and Port Authority (KSOP) and the Navigation District Office (Disnav) to intensify law enforcement against ships that disable their AIS, making them undetectable at sea.

Transportation Ministry Regulation No. 18 of 2022 mandates ships operating in Indonesia to activate their AIS while sailing in Indonesian waters. This requirement aligns with the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) convention.

Non-compliance with the AIS requirement can result in fines of up to Rp75 million (approximately US$4,950).

Sumadi emphasized that consistent and firm law enforcement, along with the fines collected, can contribute not only to increased non-tax state revenue but also to the development of infrastructure and transportation services.

He also highlighted the importance of synergy with relevant agencies such as the Directorate General of Customs and the academic community, which can study and provide suggestions for better methods of detecting AIS violations. (Antaranews)

VOINews, Jakarta - The Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries has begun implementing a pilot project for the cultivation of saline tilapia in a 16-hectare area in Karawang, West Java.

Saline tilapia is a type of tilapia that can live in both freshwater and saltwater.

Director General of Aquaculture Fisheries, Haeru Rahayu, stated on Saturday that the pilot project is expected to stimulate the local economy and improve the welfare of the community.

He added that the project aims to position tilapia as one of Indonesia's strategic commodities in the future.

According to Rahayu, there is a high demand for tilapia, especially in the form of fillets.

M. Tahang, the Head of the Karawang Fisheries Production Business Services Center, stated that they are currently working to boost the production of saline tilapia seeds.

He predicted that the project could yield 672 tons of tilapia with a rearing period of 150-180 days.

"If the average price of saline tilapia is Rp30,000 per kilogram, the total income could reach around Rp20 billion (approximately US$1.3 million)," he said.

Tahang further explained that the saline tilapia cultivation project also takes into account ecological considerations.

Based on the 2021 trade map, Indonesia ranks fifth as a global exporter of tilapia. (Antaranews)

VOINews, Jakarta - Manpower Minister Ida Fauziyah was awarded as an inspirational figure in the elimination of sexual violence in the workplace during the "2023 Anugerah Perempuan Hebat Indonesia" (Great Indonesian Women Awards) event.

Fauziyah stated that she would like to present the award to all policymakers in the workforce for their commitment to making maximum efforts in preventing and addressing cases of sexual violence in the workplace.

"We (the Manpower Ministry) are presenting this award to entrepreneurs as well as workers' unions for their crucial role in eliminating cases of sexual violence in workplaces," she noted in a written statement received here on Sunday.

Fauziyah mentioned that her ministry had issued the Manpower Minister's Decree Number 88 of 2023, which outlines prevention and handling measures for sexual violence in workplaces.

She further explained that the decree would only be effective if business actors and workers' unions collaboratively assist the government in preventing and combating sexual violence.

Additionally, the ministry continues to encourage all companies to establish a task force that will be responsible for receiving and addressing reports from victims of sexual violence in the workplace, she added.

"The government is seeking a strong commitment from all stakeholders in creating a safe and comfortable workplace for everyone," she emphasized.

Earlier, Haiyani Rumondang, the ministry's Director General of Work Inspection, Safety, and Health, expressed a similar statement, stating that a shared commitment and understanding among all relevant parties are necessary in efforts to prevent sexual violence in the workplace.

"We are confident that, with the support of like-minded industrial players, we can prevent cases of sexual violence from occurring in workplaces," she noted.

Rumondang also advised companies to incorporate the provisions of the minister's decree into employment agreements, company regulations, and collective working agreements. (Antaranews)

VOINews, Jakarta - Chairperson of the Supreme Audit Agency (BPK), Isma Yatun, has stressed the importance of conducting an internationally standardized audit on the financial management of the ASEAN Secretariat.

"Maintaining and strengthening the trust and confidence of ASEAN stakeholders is of utmost importance," Yatun said in a statement on Sunday.

During the 48th ASEAN Audit Committee (AAC) Meeting on Thursday, she stated that the Audit and Evaluation Division of the ASEAN Secretariat needs to be strengthened in terms of its role and function.

There is an urgent need to collaborate with other organizations, including entities associated with ASEAN such as the ASEAN Supreme Audit Institutions (ASEANSAI), for capacity building, especially in the public sector audit, she said.

The world conditions, especially the pandemic, pose challenges to the sustainability of organizations, but some international organizations have set an example by improving governance in response to the multi-dimensional crisis, she added.

"We must pay attention to and overcome these challenges, especially in carrying out our roles and responsibilities at the AAC," she said.

During the meeting, the AAC was expected to provide views and considerations for financial statement assurance, internal control, and governance of the ASEAN Secretariat.

The meeting was attended by AAC members from the 10 ASEAN member states, and Timor Leste attended as an observer.

"The ASEAN Audit Committee is seeking transparency, accountability, and good governance from the ASEAN Secretariat," she said.

The agenda began with the consideration of observations by the Committee of Permanent Representatives (CPR) on the report of the 47th AAC meeting and follow-ups on external auditors' recommendations from the previous meeting.

BPK also recommended increasing transparency and accountability of the ASEANSAI Secretariat, especially regarding the determination of external auditors, by amending the ASEAN Financial & Administrative Rules And Procedures (AFARP). (Antaranews)