VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

The Bali provincial government succeeded in reducing the region's stunting cases to reach the lowest level in Indonesia for 2022.

It targets the number of stunting cases to remain the lowest in the following years, an official of Bali's Health Office said.

"Stunting prevalence in Bali in 2022 was at around eight percent. The calculation has been made in October-November, and the rough result was nearly 8.9 percent. The last calculation we received from the Health Ministry was eight percent," Head of the Bali Provincial Health Service, I Nyoman Gede Anom, stated in Denpasar, Monday.

Anom remarked that the number of stunting cases in children under five in Bali Province in 2022 was lower than the target set by the provincial government.

The regional government is targeting to reduce the number of stunting cases, from 10.9 percent in 2021 to 9.28 percent in 2022.

"The target was 9.28. However, it was better to reach the lower percentage. What is certain is that Bali is the lowest in Indonesia, and it is clear that our target will still be the lowest," he affirmed.

Anom remarked that in 2021, several areas in Bali, such as the districts of Karangasem and Klungkung, had recorded a high number of stunting cases.

However, Klungkung District had succeeded in reducing its stunting prevalence rate.

"The lowest (case numbers) are in Denpasar, Badung, and Klungkung. Due to the success in achieving stunting (reduction) in Bali, awards have been given to the three regions," he remarked.

Anom said that the success achieved in reducing stunting in Klungkung District could not be separated from the support of regional leaders, village and traditional village heads, as well as mothers, who are members of the Family Welfare Empowerment organization (PKK).

He stated that the provincial government is striving to reduce the number of stunting cases to 7.1 percent by the end of 2023.

The regional government has also mobilized all regional apparatus organizations to implement programs to accelerate stunting reduction and chronic malnutrition in children's growth.

"In 2023, we will intensify the efforts," Anom affirmed.

Efforts to tackle stunting made by the local government include meeting the nutritional needs of mothers and babies, giving blood-added tablets to mothers and teenage girls, family assistance, monitoring children's growth and development through activities at the integrated health post (posyandu), and counseling on stunting prevention. (antaranews)

The Ministry of Law and Human Rights' Correctional Directorate General has awarded special remissions for 26 of 42 inmates practicing the Confucian faith on the occasion of the 2023 Chinese New Year.

"One of the 26 inmates received the special type II remission (automatically ends his term of imprisonment) after receiving a one-month remission," the directorate general's Coordinator of the Public Relations and Protocol Department Rika Aprianti said here Sunday.

The remission is a reward given to the inmates who have strived to show good conduct and behavior, she said, adding that nine of the 26 inmates are from West Kalimantan, seven from Bangka Belitung, and three from Banten while seven others are from Central Java, Jakarta, Jambi, East Java, and North Sumatra.

Granting the Chinese New Year remission to the 26 inmates has helped save some Rp14.79 million (US$946.5) for their meals, she added.

The Chinese New Year remission would hopefully motivate other inmates to show good conduct and behavior.

"The remission is not merely to reduce the prison term, but is also expected to improve inmates' faith and motivate them to become better people," Aprianti remarked.

According to the ministry's database, as of January 3, 2023, the total prison population in Indonesia was recorded at 273,522 people, including 47,008 prisoners whose legal cases remain unfinished at court. 

Meanwhile, Law No. 22 of 2022 on Penitentiary System, and Government Regulation No. 32 of 1999 on Conditions and Procedures on Implementing Penitentiary Residents' Rights are the legal basis for the granting of remission for inmates.

Only inmates who had fulfilled administrative and substantive prerequisites, such as serving for a minimum of six months, continuing to show good behaviour, and actively participating in personal development activities in the prison are eligible for the remissions. (antaranews)

Indonesia's Religious Affairs Minister Yaqut Cholil Qoumas opined that the Chinese New Year needs to be a momentum for self-introspection to evaluate the past, and improve oneself.

"Let us use the Chinese New Year as a momentum to introspect ourselves, correct our past journey, and plan the upcoming year," Qoumas stated, as per the statement here, Sunday.

The minister pointed out that Confucius had said that if people could renew themselves, then they should ensure that their renewal was continuous.

He also expressed hope that harmony could be realised to achieve an outstanding Indonesia.

"Happy Chinese New Year 2574 Kongzili. Gong he xin xi (Happy New Year), Wanshi ru yi (may everything go as wished), to all who practice the Confucian faith in Indonesia and everyone who celebrates it," Qoumas remarked.

He also conveyed the Chinese New Year greetings through the ministry's official Instagram @kemenag_ri.

While conveying the greetings in the Instagram post, he quoted a section from a Confucian classic, the Great Learning, which reads, "to govern well their states, one must first harmonise their own family."


Meanwhile, President Joko Widodo conveyed his greetings through his official Twitter @jokowi and expressed hope that tomorrow will be better for all.

"Time changes, the year passes, and new challenges appear, but one that must remain is the hope that tomorrow will be happier, more prosperous, and more advanced. Gong xi fa cai (May you have a prosperous new year)," as tweeted through his official account.

Moreover, several state officials also conveyed their Chinese New Year greetings, including the Minister of Villages, Development of Disadvantaged Regions, and Transmigration Abdul Halim Iskandar, through his official Instagram.

"Happy Chinese New Year, may we are blessed and successful," Iskandar said.

Minister of Manpower Ida Fauziyah also conveyed her greetings. "Happy Chinese New Year, Gong xi fa cai, may prosperity and happiness be abundant for all of us this year," she remarked. (antaranews)

A total of 210 Chinese tourists getting on board a chartered plane arrived at I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport in the Indonesian resort island of Bali on Sunday.

The Chinese nationals are allowed to travel abroad for the first time in almost three years following Beijing ease of restrictions of its COVID-19 measures.

“This is officially first flight (from China). It is a good momentum to bring back the Chinese tourists to Bali,” Deputy for Marketing of the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy Ni Made Ayu Marthini said in Bali on Sunday.

The 210 tourists who departed from Shengzhen, China, by getting on board Indonesia's Lion Air were greeted with a garland of flowers, traditional Balinese dances and the traditional lion dance or barongsai.

Marthini hoped that after the first flight, there would be more Chinese tourists coming to Bali.

"The Indonesian Government has set a target of attracting 255.300 tourists from China coming to Indonesia this year. However, the targeted number of Chinese visitors can hopefully be exceeded, and if possible, it can be similar to that of 2019," she said.

According to the information she received, the Government of People's Republic of China would also allow group tours to visit several countries, including Indonesia, starting from February 6.

Bali Governor Wayan Koster said he believes that the returns of tourists from China will help Bali’s tourism get back to normal.

“We hope our tourism will return to normal like before the pandemic. At that time.it drew 6.3 million foreign visitors a year. However, we hope, this year, it can reach at least 4.5 million visitors,” he remarked.

Meanwhile, China's Consul General in Denpasar Zhu Xinglong said before the COVID-19 pandemic, there were around 1.3 million Chinese citizens traveling to Bali in 2019.

After this first flight, there would be a number of direct flights from China arriving in Bali in the very near future.

“We will also encourage other cities in China such as Beijing and Shanghai to make more direct flights to Bali. In February, there will be more flights from China coming to Bali,” Xinglong said. (antaranews)