VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Jakarta (voinews): The National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) introduced Indonesia's ways of building disaster resilience at the Pacific Risk Management 'Ohana (PRiMO) conference held in Honolulu, Hawaii, US, on April 3-6, 2023.

Deputy for Logistics and Equipment at the BNPB Lilik Kurniawan and several other staff represented Indonesia at the conference that was attended by Pacific Island countries' stakeholders in the field of disaster mitigation.

Kurniawan, in a written statement received on Sunday, stated that the Disaster Resilient Village (Destana) program is one of the ways taken by Indonesia to bolster community resilience in the process of disaster mitigation.

"Disaster is a locality issue. Thus, the community's resilience is crucial. The Disaster Resilient Village program involves the active role of the community, supported by regional governments, academicians, and business institutions," he said.

According to him, the Destana program has 20 indicators and priorities in economy, environment, and inclusion. The program is tailored to the disaster risk and potential in the respective areas.

"Destana in coastal areas has efforts for tsunami preparedness and climate change adaptation," he said.

In addition to strengthening the community's resilience, the authority would also need to improve building structures, such as houses, schools, offices, places of worship, health facilities, markets, and public facilities, to minimize the aftereffects of disasters.

The concept is implemented by identifying local risks, improving the role of local authorities, and preparing local actions through the strengthening of infrastructure, disaster risk management, and education, he expounded.

Kurniawan explained that Indonesia is a disaster-prone archipelagic country with over 17,500 islands. Like other Pacific Island countries, Indonesia has a high risk of disasters and climate change impacts. Therefore, cooperation and exchange of knowledge based on local wisdom become essential.

In addition, he continued, Indonesia has a coastline of 81,000 kilometers, the second longest after Canada. To this end, green, mixing green, and gray infrastructures are built in coastal cities as a mitigation effort. (antaranews)

VOInews, Jakarta: The Indonesian Embassy in Windhoek Namibia is holding an Indonesian Fun Cooking Class on Wednesday (5/4/2023). This culinary promotion activity was held at the Silver Spoon Hospitality Academy (SSHA) culinary school and was attended by 10 people from food enthusiasts, restaurant owners, and journalists/friends of Indonesia.

"Indonesian Fun Cooking Class is one of the efforts of the Indonesian Embassy in Windhoek to strengthen Indonesian gastro diplomacy in Namibia," wrote the Indonesian Embassy in an official statement received in Jakarta, Saturday (8/4/2023).

It was stated that the cooking class participants diligently followed the directions of Chef Terry Jenkinson from SSHA who demonstrated how to cook a number of Indonesian dishes such as pepes tofu, chicken satay, spicy eggplant, village fried rice, and omelet rolls. They also seem to enjoy the food they prepare and can't wait to cook Indonesian food themselves.

“The flavor of Indonesian food is sensational. I am excited to try and recreate the dishes," said Leonhard Kurz, restauranter and one of the cooking class participants.

The participants stated that they were satisfied with the Indonesian Fun Cooking Class. They hope to add variety to their dishes at home.

"Having gone to Indonesia, tasting the delicious food, and seeing how the flavors are put together for the first time is so cool! Now I can finally cook Indonesian food and share the taste of Indonesia with my family," said Whilzhan Gelderbloem, a radio broadcaster who participated in a media trip to Indonesia in 2015.

Apart from cooking classes, the Indonesian Embassy in Windhoek Namibia in collaboration with SSHA will also organize Indonesian culinary promotions in the form of an Indonesian Dinner on 31 May 2023 and an Indonesian Cooking Competition on July 2023. (VOI/Andy)

VOInews, Jakarta: Commemorating the 17th night of Ramadan 1444 Hijriah, the Indonesian Consulate General in Sydney held a Nuzulul Quran celebration, with the theme Al-Qur'an as a Guide to Life for Humans, in the hall of the Indonesian Consulate General, Friday (8/4/2023).

At this celebration, the Indonesian Consulate General in Sydney invited representatives from community leaders and the Indonesian diaspora in New South Wales (NSW) and other community representatives. Among those present were representatives from the Center Of Islamic Da'wah (CIDE), Islamic Study and Information Forum (FISI), Indonesian Islamic Women Association, Ashabul Khafi Islamic Center, Surau Sydney, Indonesian Community Council (ICC), Minang Saiyo Family Association ( IKMS), Indonesian Diaspora Network (IDN) NSW, Iqro Foundation, Human Initiative and Youth representatives who are members of Islamic Student Organizations in NSW.

The Indonesian Consul General, Vedi Kurnia Buana expressed his appreciation for the enthusiasm of the Indonesian people and diaspora in NSW and thanked the invitees for attending.

"To all invitees, on behalf of the Indonesian Consulate General in Sydney, I would like to thank you for coming to commemorate the Nuzulul Qur'an night at the Indonesian Consulate General in Sydney," said Consul General Vedi in his remarks, as quoted from the official statement from the Indonesian Consulate General in Sydney received in Jakarta, Saturday (9/4/2023).

Consul General Vedi said the Nuzulul Qur'an momentum should be able to remind Muslims of the importance of the Qur'an as a way of life and increase faith in the Qur'an.

"The Nuzulul Qur'an incident is a tremendous event," he said.

"If we had sent down this Qur'an on a mountain, you (Muhammad) would have seen the mountain submit and break into pieces out of fear of Allah. We created this parable for humans so they would think," said Consul General Vedi quoting QS al-Hashr 59: 21.

Consul General Vedi further reminded Muslims to make the Al-Qur'an not only as a reading, but more than that to make the Al-Qur'an a way of life in carrying out daily tasks in all aspects of life.

Meanwhile, Ustazd Buya Ilham, Lc., MA., in his sermon explained, Nuzulul Qur'an reminded the importance of reading and interpreting the Qur'an, not only at the moment of Nuzulul Qur'an, but in daily activities.

"The Al-Qur'an as a guide for Muslims has brought us out of darkness," he said.

"Darkness that approaches and envelops us occurs because we are confined by lust and we continue to follow it, satisfying ourselves by simply following lust," he added.

At the end of the tausyiah, he invited all present to continue to be able to interact with the Al-Qur'an. According to him, making the Al-Qur'an a part of daily life will bring Muslims to acquire perfect faith in the Al-Qur'an and devotion to Allah SWT.

Apart from tausiyah, the night of commemoration of Nuzulul Qur'an at the Indonesian Consulate General in Sydney was also filled with the recitation of the Qur'an read by Ahmed Abdul Rauf, a student from CIDE College, Mountdruitt, Northwest, NSW.

One of the invitees present, Herman Rahman, expressed his appreciation for the holding of the Nuzulul Al-Qur'an night commemoration by the Indonesian Consulate General in Sydney, while also hoping that all those present could continue to emulate and live up to the values and meanings of the Al-Qur'an, so that we are able to achieve balance and peace of life. (VOI/Andy)

Jakarta (voinews): Vice President Ma'ruf Amin has emphasized that harmony among the people is important for maintaining national unity and peace, which are key for realizing the vision of an Advanced Indonesia.

He made the statement in a video on the commemoration of Nuzulul Qur’an 1444 Hijri/2023, which was broadcast on the YouTube channel of the Secretariat of the Vice President on Friday evening.

Nuzulul Qur’an commemorates Prophet Muhammad’s first revelation, which is believed to have been conveyed to him on the 17th night of Ramadan which, this year, coincided with the evening of April 7.

“All good programs, plans, and works to realize the vision of an Advanced Indonesia can only be carried out if our nation is in harmony and unity," the Vice President remarked.

He noted that the command to maintain harmony is stated in the Qur'an Surah An-Nisa verse 114.

The verse says, "There is no good in most of their secret talks — except those encouraging charity, kindness, or reconciliation between people. And whoever does this seeking Allah’s pleasure, We will grant them a great reward."

Conciliating the community, including preventing conflicts and maintaining harmony, is an act that can help avert hardship, Amin said.

The message conveyed by the verse is very relevant for a large and diverse nation, such as Indonesia, for strengthening inter-religious harmony, he added.

"The differences among human beings are inevitable, as shown in the reality of life. Regarding this, the Qur'an has also stated in Surah Hud verse 118: ‘Had your Lord so willed, He would have certainly made humanity one single community of believers, but they will always choose to differ,’” he said.

According to the verse, if Allah SWT wills, all people will certainly become one community, however, Allah SWT has let people remain as different communities, he explained.

However, these differences should not spark disputes in the community, he said.

"Thus, it is very important to revitalize the lesson contained by the aforementioned verse in the life of (our) pluralistic nation to cement and maintain harmony in the society," he added.

The fasting month of Ramadhan — which began on March 23 this year, as announced by the Religious Affairs Ministry -- is the right opportunity to strengthen kinship and unity in the midst of existing differences to bolster national and human brotherhood, he said.

"We are grateful to Allah SWT because Muslims in Indonesia are wasathiyyin, meaning they think moderately and implement the principle of at-tawassuth or being moderate (in their stance on any issue), neither being extreme left nor extreme right," Amin noted.

He said that moderation and religious tolerance are crucial for building harmony.

The management of religious moderation is an important means for preventing conflict, building consensus, and maintaining national integrity, he added.

"I am grateful that the practice of religious moderation in our country has been able to become a reference for the international community. I hope that Muslims in Indonesia can maintain this good practice and are expected to have more contribution in realizing a peaceful world," he remarked.

With God's help and people’s hard work, Indonesia will be blessed and manage to reach glory, he said.

"God willing, our nation will continue to survive all hardships and challenges, thus it can keep advancing to become an evenly prosperous country," he added.

He also said that the Qur'an was revealed to become a guidance for humans and help them distinguish between right and wrong, as mentioned in Q.S. Al Baqarah verse 185.

The verse means, “Ramadan is the month in which the Qur’an was revealed as a guide for humanity with clear proofs of guidance and the standard to distinguish between right and wrong. So whoever is present this month, let them fast. But whoever is ill or on a journey, then let them fast an equal number of days after Ramadhan. Allah intends ease for you, not hardship, so that you may complete the prescribed period and proclaim the greatness of Allah for guiding you, and perhaps you will be grateful."

Amin said that there are two kinds of guidance in the Qur'an, namely general guidance, or hidayatul adillah, which has been given to all human beings, both to Muslims and non-Islamic believers.

The second one is the ma'unah guidance, or help from Allah SWT, which is bestowed to pious people, he added.

He said that in the Qur'an, people have been urged to invite others to do good, as mentioned in Surah Ali-Imran verse 104, saying "Let there be a group among you who call others to goodness, encourage what is good, and forbid what is evil — it is they who will be successful.”

Meanwhile, at the National Commemoration of Nuzulul Qur’an 1444 Hijri at the Religious Affairs Ministry’s headquarters here on Friday, Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs Mahfud MD said that Qur’an had inspired Indonesia to become a peaceful and tolerant nation.

“Diversity is a valuable wealth of Indonesia. It is our strong commitment to maintain (national) harmony," he said. (antaranews)