VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Jakarta (voinews): Indonesia still requires 439,680 librarians for all types of libraries, head of the National Library (Perpusnas) Muhammad Syarif Bando has informed.

"The number includes all types of libraries in Indonesia, be they public, special, (at) public and private schools, and university libraries," he said in a statement received here on Wednesday.

The need for librarians must be met to optimize the function of libraries in improving the community's literacy, Bando added.

According to him, Perpusnas issued a recommendation regarding the need for or the formation of functional librarian positions in 2022 to 31 agencies, pegging the total need for functional librarians at 4,344.

"The Inpassing (Library Management Technical Training) implementation in the 2017–2021 period boosted the number of functional librarians in Indonesia," he informed.

Out of a total of 13,983 assessed libraries, the number of libraries accredited with A, B, and C predicates has reached 9,363, the Perpusnas head noted.

"If libraries are accredited and librarians are certified, the public's trust will increase because the libraries will meet the National Library Standards and the librarians will be competent and professional," he said.

Taking note of the shortage of librarians, deputy head of Commission X of the House of Representatives (DPR) Agustina Wilujeng said that Perpusnas needs to optimize strategic steps, for example, by issuing a regulation that makes the recruitment of librarians for functional positions convenient.

Meanwhile, a member of Commission X of the DPR Vanda Sarundajang noted that on average, librarians are currently aged over 50, thus, many of them will enter retirement soon.

"Thus, the competency of librarians needs to be improved through technical guidance and training so that the management of libraries can improve," she said.

Regarding the technical management of libraries, she called for an allocation to be readied so that technical staff at libraries can receive a more decent income. (Antaranews)

Jakarta (voinews): Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs Mahfud MD has reiterated the government's seriousness and commitment to eradicating human trafficking mafias.

"Human trafficking is a despicable crime against humanity, and the government already has relevant laws on this issue," Mahfud said here on Wednesday.

He condemned human trafficking as dangerous and a threat to humanity as well as a cause of financial losses for victims, and called for collective action to thwart the crime.

"If people are treated as slaves in particular places, such as on ships, or (while working) on farms, yet being denied their salary, have their passport confiscated, and other issues, we must take action against those crimes together," the coordinating minister remarked.

He said that his visit to Batam was to warn perpetrators of human trafficking, either within government institutions or private parties, to cease their action.

"This is a warning for (human trafficking) syndicates, either in government offices or private parties. I already have the list of the syndicates, yet it will be verified first to prove its validity," he noted.

After the visit to Batam, the government will process the data collected during the visit for further action, he said.

"The government is serious, as after this visit, we will process the data received here in Jakarta. There are a lot of sources that we must verify its validity (with) to determine further action that would be taken," Mahfud said. (Antaranews)

Jakarta (voinews): Trade Minister Zulkifli Hasan has urged merchants selling basic foods not to take excessive profits or stockpile their goods to avoid corrective action by the government's food task force.

"Be careful, those who stockpile stocks will have their stocks confiscated by the task force. Hence, we ask (merchants) to take profit reasonably," he said, according to a statement released on Wednesday.

The Trade Ministry and the food task force have been routinely inspecting the prices of basic foods in markets nationwide, he added.

During his visit to cheap market bazaars in Cengkareng, West Jakarta, and Caking, East Jakarta, on Wednesday, Hasan said that the bazaar has been set up to ensure residents can fulfill their basic food needs at affordable prices.

The officials who accompanied him during the visit included West Jakarta Mayor Uus Kuswanto during his visit to Cengkareng, while provincial Industry, Trade, Cooperatives, and SMEs Office head Elisabeth Ratu Rante Allo accompanied him during the visit to Cakung.

"Our bazaar with the mayors is to help residents obtain their basic needs at affordable prices," he noted.

Retail stores, State Logistics Agency (Bulog), and micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) have participated in the bazaar, which is making cheap and basic food products available to residents.

Some basic food products sold at the bazaar are garlic, which is priced at Rp25 thousand (US$1.67) per kilogram, MinyaKita cooking oil Rp14 thousand (US$0.93) per liter, flour Rp12 thousand (US$0.80) per kilogram, and sugar Rp13.5 thousand (US$0.90) for a kilogram.

Moreover, a basic food package consisting of 1 kilogram of sugar, 1 kilogram of cooking oil, and 2.5 kilograms of rice, is also available at the bazaar for Rp65 thousand (US$4.35). (Antaranews)

Jakarta (voinews): Duo Saraswati, a cello-piano duo from the Netherlands is touring Indonesia this April, organized by Erasmus Huis.

With their unique repertoire that is backed by their Balinese background, they connect traditional Indonesian music to European classical music.

Duo Saraswati consists of the brothers Jan van der Plas on cello and Kris van der Plas on piano.

They always try to find connections between European and Indonesian music in their repertoire, for example bringing together songs of Indonesian composer Mochtar Embut and the sonata of Francis Poulenc.

“Our Indonesian background influences our music a lot, in our program it is obvious that we make the connection between Indonesia and The Netherlands. We hope mostly to connect people by showing them the differences we have and the similarities we share. And to inspire everyone with our performance,” said Kris in a release received by VOINews, Wednesday.

Jan van der Plas (1997) was a guest player at the famous string orchestra Amsterdam Sinfonietta. During his studies he performed multiple contemporary works. He studied at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam with Gideon den Herder and Jelena Očić, and graduated in 2021.

Kris van der Plas (2002) studies with Frank Peters at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam. Kris was the first-prize winner of the regional final of Princes Christina Concours in 2020. He is known for his flexibility and broad knowledge of the classical repertoire.

“The Erasmus Huis is very proud to present these two most talented young Dutch musicians to an Indonesian audience. Educated at the prominent Amsterdam Conservatory they both are at the start of a certainly successful career," said Erasmus Huis Director Yolande Melsert in the release.

This concert will really be a ‘campur’ experience in all senses. Coming from the same family makes them special, coming from a Dutch father and an Indonesian mother makes them even more special. Mixing authentic Indonesian and European sounds, this promises to be a very special concert!” he added.

The duo will play a selection of songs from ‘Antologi Musik Klasik Indonesia’ such as Rambut, Cempaka Kuning, Srikandi, Kisah Mawar di Malam Hari, Setitik Embun and many more.

They will perform in Medan on April 5, Surabaya on April 8, and Jakarta on April 12.