VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

The chairman of the MPR RI, Bambang Soesatyo, asked the government to act swiftly and swiftly in handling patients with suspected monkeypox or monkeypox in Semarang, Central Java.

This follows a confirmation from the Ministry of Health (Kemenkes) which confirmed that there was one suspected case of monkeypox in the area.

"Of course, by isolating and carrying out a complete examination including the PCR lab test. Besides continuing to monitor the suspected patient until he is declared cured," said Bambang at the Jakarta Parliament Building, Thursday (4/8/2022).

The Deputy Chairperson of the Golkar Party hopes that the Ministry of Health (Kemenkes) will continue to cooperate with epidemiologist experts in conducting examinations.

"And an in-depth research by taking samples from one suspect. So it is hoped that the right analysis and steps will be obtained in dealing with the monkeypox case," he said.

For this reason, Bamsoet as he is familiarly called, encourages the government to further increase high vigilance against monkeypox cases.

"Try to take preventive measures and issue appropriate policies to prevent the spread of monkeypox cases in Indonesia," he said.

"All parties, especially the community, so as not to panic but remain vigilant of transmission with the discipline of health protocols and apply a healthy and clean lifestyle," he said. (RRI)

The ASEAN Prize 2021 was officially awarded to Mekong Institute by the ASEAN in recognition of its long-standing contributions to promoting ASEAN awareness and strengthening regional cooperation towards driving sustainable development and economic growth.

Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn and Secretary General of ASEAN Lim Jock Hoi presented the ASEAN Prize trophy to the Mekong Institute Executive Director Suriyan Vichitlekarn, as noted in a release issued by the ASEAN Secretariat and received here on Thursday.

The trophy was presented during the 55th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting and Related Meetings in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, on Wednesday (August 3).

Due to the COVID-19 restrictions in place, the official announcement was made separately during the 38th and 39th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits in Bandar Seri Begawan last year.

Mekong Institute, a research institute and community development centre based in Khon Kaen, Thailand, also received a monetary prize of US$20 thousand sponsored by the Temasek Foundation and Yayasan Hasanah.

Established in 1996, Mekong Institute has been acknowledged as one of the region’s driving forces in accelerating and promoting prosperous and harmonious sub-regional development, particularly in the areas of capacity building and sustainable community development.

The institute’s aspiration and long-standing commitment radiating through multi-institutional engagement as well as cross-sectorial cooperation are deeply aligned with an inclusive, cohesive, and resilient ASEAN Community, the ASEAN Secretariat said in its statement.

Administered by the ASEAN Secretariat, the ASEAN Prize is an annual regional premier award that recognises outstanding and inspiring achievements of individuals or organisations based in the ASEAN that have significantly contributed to community-building efforts.

Since 2018, the ASEAN Prize has bestowed the award to four exemplary recipients.

Erlinda Uy Koe, a Filipino autism advocate, received the inaugural ASEAN Prize in 2018 for her contributions to foster an inclusive ASEAN Community.

In 2019, Malaysian humanitarian leader Dr Jemilah Mahmood was selected as the ASEAN Prize recipient in recognition of her dedication in providing emergency needs and humanitarian response to the marginalised and affected population in the region.

In 2020, the ASEAN Studies Centre of ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute, a Singapore-based regional research centre, was awarded the ASEAN Prize for long-standing contributions in promoting ASEAN awareness through academic outreach and engagement with stakeholders.  (Antaranews)

State-owned airport operator PT Angkasa Pura II (AP II) and Changi Airport Group (CAG) held a meeting to discuss ways to accelerate recovery of the aviation sector impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

AP II President Director Muhammad Awaluddin and CAG CEO Lee Seow Hiang attended the meeting in the Soekarno-Hatta Airport area, Tangerang, on Wednesday (August 3).

"AP II and Changi Airport Group, as the two largest airport operators in the ASEAN region, are exploring cooperation, so that we can make a significant contribution in encouraging aviation recovery, both in Indonesia and Southeast Asia," Awaluddin noted here on Thursday.

Three forms of cooperation were explored at the meeting.

The first form of cooperation focused on tourism development, wherein AP II requested CAG to provide digital banners and other media platforms at Changi Airport to promote Indonesia's five super priority destinations: Borobudur Temple in Central Java, Mandalika in West Nusa Tenggara, Labuan Bajo in East Nusa Tenggara, Lake Toba in North Sumatra, and Likupang in North Sulawesi.

"(Hence,) International passengers after landing at Soekarno-Hatta Airport can continue their journey to the five super priority destinations," Awaluddin stated.

He elaborated that the second form of cooperation pertained to synergy in the implementation of the Airport Collaborative Decision Making (ACDM) between the two airports.

ACDM is a system that accommodates real-time information-based cooperation from all stakeholders, such as airport operators, airlines, ground handling, air traffic services, and other supporting partners.

"The synergy in the implementation of ACDM between Soekarno-Hatta Airport and Changi Airport can make the Jakarta-Singapore route more optimal and efficient, which leads to improved services for passengers," Awaluddin stated.

Currently, on average, 37 flights take off and land on the Jakarta-Singapore route, thereby making it one of the busiest international routes in the world.

Hence, AP II and CAG will form a team to discuss the implementation of ACDM.

The third form for cooperation is for the optimization of flights between AP II and Changi Airport Group with airlines during this recovery period, with this being implemented on the basis of applicable regulations.  (Antaranews)

The National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) called for streamlining the management of single-use waste following the finding of increasing concentrations of microplastics during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Implementation in the form of stringent regulation, dissemination of information to the public and increasing understanding is necessary to promote correct disposal methods and systemic change within the scope of plastic waste management, especially for single-use plastic.

People were invited to participate in protecting the environment, especially pertaining to the disposal of personal protective equipment (PPE) waste, M. Reza Cordova from BRIN's Oceanography Research Center noted through a statement on Wednesday.

An increase in thread-shaped microplastics from PPE was reported at the mouth of rivers leading to the Jakarta Bay, he pointed out.

Some 4.29-23.49 microplastic particles were found per one thousand liters of river water, with the average being 9.02 particles per one thousand liters of water, he revealed.

The thread-shaped microplastics were indicated to have the similar shape and chemical composition as medical masks.

The proportion of microplastics rose by 10 folds in December 2020 as compared to when the first COVID-19 case was found in Indonesia when the proportion of microplastics was at around three percent.

The microplastic monitoring research recorded that the concentrations were higher in the east coast of Jakarta Bay as compared to the west coast.

Of the nine river mouths studied in Jakarta, Bogor, Depok, Tangerang, and Bekasi (Greater Jakarta), microplastics were found in all these locations.

The result of the research conducted by BRIN in collaboration with several parties showed a significant increase in microplastic levels, especially during heavy rainfall.

The highest concentrations of microplastics were found during the rainy season, recorded at 9.02 particles per one thousand liters of water, on average, while the lowest was found during the dry season, at 8.01 particles per one thousand liters of water.

The team published this finding in the Marine Pollution Bulletin titled: Seasonal heterogeneity and a link to precipitation in the release of microplastic during COVID-19 outbreak from the Greater Jakarta area to Jakarta Bay, Indonesia.  (Antaranews)