File - President Joko Widodo walks near humanitarian aid packages for Palestine and Sudan at Halim Perdanakusuma Air Base in Jakarta on April 3, 2024. (ANTARA FOTO/Asprilla Dwi Adha/tom) - 

VOInews, Jakarta : Indonesian Joko Widodo released humanitarian aid for the Palestinian people in Egypt and the Sudanese people affected by the internal conflict and disease outbreak in Sudan. Indonesian humanitarian aid was released by the President from the Halim Perdanakusuma Indonesian Air Force Base, Jakarta, Wednesday (3/4/2024).

The President said that Indonesia was concerned about the humanitarian tragedy in Gaza, Palestine, and the internal conflict that occurred in Sudan which causes many victims. The aid sent according to official request from the government of Egypt and Sudan.

"The aid sent today is worth approximately 30 billion rupiah. In the form of medicines and health equipment And also other aid, which is tailored to existing needs in the field. In accordance with official requests from the governments of Egypt and Sudan. President Joko Widodo explained that the Chairman of the National Disaster Management Agency, Suharyanto, led a delegation to deliver aid to Egypt and Sudan", President said. 

The Indonesian government, through the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, received a diplomatic note from Egypt and Sudan regarding a request for humanitarian assistance for the people there who are facing conflict and disease outbreaks.

In this note, the Egyptian government hopes for assistance from the Indonesian government in handling Palestinian refugees entering Egypt region, around Rafah Egypt (North Sinai Desert), due to the Israeli invasion of the Gaza region, Palestine//(NDY-YT) 

Indonesian Presiden Joko Widodo and a Dayak tribal commander at a meeting of the TBBR Red Army in Pontianak, West Kalimantan (Photo : Kalbar) - 

VOInews, Jakarta : The National Dayak Traditional Council (MADN) has expressed their support for the development of Indonesia's new national capital (IKN), Nusantara.

“We, the Dayak tribe, through the National Dayak Traditional Council, have made a joint declaration supporting IKN in East Kalimantan,” said Andersius Namsi, MADN's vice president for internal affairs, in a statement released by the Nusantara Capital City Authority (OIKN) on Saturday.

The council also urged cooperation in addressing any shortcomings in the project.

“There may be something lacking or even wrong; we can fix it together. We remind the government; we remind the authorities building the IKN,” he added.

He further said that all people are allowed to have different opinions and be critical of things. However, the criticism should be constructive and offer some solutions.

“We welcome constructive criticism that respects Dayak cultural customs,” Namsi added.

He also expressed concern over a Dayak tribe commander who opposed the IKN development project.

“MADN is very concerned about a Dayak citizen claiming to be the commander who condemned the IKN development project in East Kalimantan,” he said.

Namsi emphasized the importance of using constructive criticism in accordance with Dayak customs and culture rather than expressing condemnation.

He said that the Dayak commanders have developed their abilities to help and provide protection to the Dayak indigenous people when necessary//ANTARA - VOI

The picture of Indonesian state palace in Nusantara Capital City (Archive : Setpres) - 

VOInews, Jakarta : The fifth phase of groundbreaking in Indonesia’s new capital city Nusantara took place to commence the development of projects worth US$3.17 billion of investment in total.

The Nusantara Capital Authority Deputy for Socio - cultural Affairs and People's Empowerment, Alimuddin, noted in North Penajam Paser District, East Kalimantan, on Saturday that the fifth phase of groundbreaking in Nusantara that took place on February 29 and March 1 serves as a testament to the continued development of Indonesia's future capital city. 

He further emphasized that the government would continue to develop the city while protecting the rights of every affected citizen instead of conducting arbitrary evictions//ANTARA - VOI

Torchlight parade to welcomes Ramadan in several parts of Indonesia (Photo : Archive) - 

VOInews, Banda Aceh : The holy month of Ramadan is getting closer and all Muslims in various parts of the world are starting to prepare themselves to welcome it.

The various cultures and tribes in Indonesia have resulted in the emergence of various traditions of welcoming Ramadan in each region with their own characteristics. The tradition of welcoming Ramadan is passed down from generation to generation as an effort to preserve culture and customs.

This tradition certainly has a deep meaning which aims to purify oneself, forgive each other, pray for each other and build friendship in welcoming the holy month.

In Aceh there is a tradition called Meugang. This tradition is to welcoming Ramadan in Aceh. It has been embedded in the lives of the people of Aceh since the time of the Aceh Darussalam kingdom, lasting since the 14th century.

The meugang tradition is an activity of cooking beef, goat or buffalo in each house the day before the month of Ramadan begins. This meat dish is enjoyed by all family members, relatives, even orphans together.

Traditions are not only carried out when welcoming the month of Ramadan but also when welcoming Eid al-Adha and Eid al-Fitr. This aims to strengthen relationships between people through important religious moments.

Meanwhile in West Sumatera there is Malamang tradition. A unique tradition of welcoming the month of Ramadan in West Sumatra is called Malamang. The community together makes traditional food, namely lemang, with great joy. This tradition aims to maintain the value of togetherness in Minangkabau society with simple activities.

Marpangir in North Sumatra, a unique tradition in North Sumatra in welcoming the month of Ramadan is called Marpangir. Activities that involve traditional bathing where the water is mixed with leaves or spices, such as pandan leaves, lemongrass leaves, kaffir lime, flowers, ylang-ylang, lime leaves, vetiver and areca nut flowers as a fragrance ingredient. This tradition is carried out by the people of North Sumatra as a form of self-cleaning before welcoming the month of Ramadan.

Cucurak in West Java, in Sundanese means having fun and gathering with family to welcome the month of Ramadan. Cucurak is done by gathering with the family and eating together using banana leaves while sitting on the floor. The menu served is liwet rice, tempeh, salted fish as well as chili sauce and fresh vegetables. This tradition is a form of invitation to give thanks to each other for the blessings and sustenance given by God.

Padusan in Yogyakarta, welcoming Ramadhan, the people of Yogyakarta do Padusan. In Javanese, padusan comes from the word "adus" which means bathing. This tradition is carried out by soaking or bathing in wells or springs. Padusan is an effort to purify oneself, cleanse the body and soul in welcoming the holy month of Ramadan. This tradition is also an effort to self-introspection about mistakes that have been made so that carrying out worship is calmer.

Nyorog in Jakarta, the Betawi tribe or indigenous people of Jakarta preserve many of their traditions such as the Nyorog tradition. This tradition takes the form of giving or sending food parcels to older family members, such as parents or in-laws who live in different houses or to elder figures in the local area. These gifts can include sugar, coffee milk, rice, meat or various other raw food ingredients. This has more meaning than just sharing food, but also as a form of respect for elders and establishing friendship to strengthen ties of brotherhood between people.

Torch parade in Palembang, ahead of Ramadan, hundreds of students carry out a torch relay to joyfully welcome the holy month of Ramadan. The torch relay is carried out by going around the village together carrying torches and chanting prayers at night. When hundreds of students carry out a torchlight parade at night with prayers and blessings, it indicates that the holy month of Ramadan is getting closer. In this activity, the enthusiasm of the community was also great by watching the unique tradition of the torch relay before Ramadan//ANTARA-VOI

Rice stocks at the BULOG warehouse (Photo : BULOG) - 

VOInews, Jakarta : The government has assured that the nation has sufficient rice stocks to meet demand during March, April, and May this year so people need not worry about rice shortage during Ramadan and the Idul Fitri holiday.

"Insya Allah (God willing), our national rice stocks for March, April, and May remain safe," Agriculture Minister Andi Amran Sulaiman said in a press statement issued by his ministry here on Saturday.

To meet the demand in June, preparation for rice planting will need to be carried out from March. At least three million hectares of land will need to be prepared for rice planting to secure three months' rice stocks, the minister informed.

"We must plant rice on at least one million hectares of land per month to produce 3.0 to 3.5 million tons of rice, while our monthly rice demand is recorded only at some 2.5 million tons," he expounded.

If this scenario works, Indonesia will get a rice surplus, he said, adding that domestic rice production will hopefully help lower rice prices significantly.

"This March, the rice prices definitely go down. I guarantee that the rice prices are safe during the holy month of Ramadan, the Idul Fitri holiday season, and two months after Idul Fitri," he said.

Meanwhile, supply chain and public service director at the State Logistics Agency (Bulog), Mokhamad Suyamto, said that the government's rice reserves remain sufficient to meet demand during Ramadan and Idul Fitri.

"The availability of the government's rice reserves is currently recorded at 1.4 million tons, and the remaining quota of this year's rice import is recorded at 1.5 million tons. So, the stocks are sufficient," he explained.

ANTARA reported earlier that Bulog president director Bayu Krisnamurthi also assured of sufficient rice stocks to fulfill people's needs, especially ahead of Ramadan and the Idul Fitri holiday.

He informed that Bulog is routinely distributing rice via several channels, namely the Rice Food Assistance Program and the Stabilization of Food Supply and Prices (SPHP) Program, to meet people's requirements//ANTARA-VOI

President Joko Widodo (fifth from the right) at the ASEAN-Australia Special Summit reception at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Center (MCEC) on Tuesday (March 5, 2024). (ANTARA/Presidential Secretariat) - 

VOInews, Australia - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has reaffirmed Indonesia's solidarity with Palestine and called for an end to the genocide in the Gaza Strip during the ASEAN-Australia Special Summit in Melbourne on March 4-6.

"The president reiterated the importance of the ceasefire and called for continued support to UNRWA (the UN agency for Palestinian refugees)," Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi stated in a press statement on Wednesday.

In the second session of the summit, themed "Our Vision for the Region and Addressing Shared Challenges," Jokowi also emphasized the importance of ASEAN and Australia continuing to respect international law.

"Rule-based order must be enforced without double standards, and no country should be above the law," Marsudi said, referring to Jokowi's statement.

Regarding the geopolitical situation, Jokowi encouraged ASEAN and Australia to continue to strengthen the spirit and paradigm of cooperation to prevent a decline in trust.

"Inclusive cooperation is very important to create strategic trust. The president also hoped that Australia could become a bridge for ASEAN cooperation with the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) and with IORA (Indian Ocean Rim Association)," Marsudi remarked.

The ASEAN-Australia Special Summit was held to commemorate 50 years of partnership between the two. Australia is ASEAN's first dialogue partner and the first partner in the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

ASEAN, or the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, which was established on August 8, 1967, currently has 10 official member countries, namely Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines, Thailand, Brunei Darussalam, Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar, and Vietnam.

ASEAN, in principle, admitted Timor-Leste as its 11th member and allowed the country to attend all its meetings, including at the head of state and government level//(ANTARA-VOI)

President Joko Widodo and Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi in the ASEAN-Australia Special Summit in Melbourne, on March 3, 2024. (ANTARA/Presidential Secretariat) - 

VOInews, Australia - Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi stated that the ASEAN-Australia Special Summit resulted in two documents, namely the Melbourne Declaration and the ASEAN-Australia Leaders Vision Statement.

"The Melbourne Declaration contains the direction of cooperation in the political-security, economic, and socio-cultural sectors going forward," Marsudi noted in a transcript of her press statement regarding the summit, as received here on Wednesday.

President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) attended the summit that took place in Melbourne on March 4-6.

Meanwhile, the ASEAN-Australia Leaders Vision Statement is aimed at facing geopolitical, geostrategic, and geoeconomic challenges. The event was held to commemorate 50 years of ASEAN's partnership with Australia, and the theme of the summit was "A Partnership for the Future."

The summit was divided into two sessions, with the first session being the "Future ASEAN-Australia Cooperation" discussion, while the second one was "The Three ASEAN Cooperation Pillars".

Marsudi explained that last year, Australia had released its economic strategy document for Southeast Asia. The document was created by Australia's Special Envoy for Southeast Asia Nicholas Moore.

"The point of Moore's report is Australia's new approach to increase trade and investment with Southeast Asia," she stated.

Australia views Southeast Asia as a highly potential region, with high economic growth, geographical proximity, and economic complementarity, she explained.

"It is part of Australia's efforts to diversify the economy," she added.

Four major objectives in the report are raising awareness, removing blockages, building capacities, and deepening investment.

The 10 priority sectors for the Australia and Southeast Asia cooperation are agriculture and food, natural resources, clean energy transition, infrastructure, education and skills, tourism, health, digital economy, professional and financial services, and creative industries.

"Australia also launched the ASEAN-Australia Center, which is a form of support for the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP)," Marsudi stated//(ANTARA-VOI)

Logo of Indonesia's central bank, Bank Indonesia, as seen in Jakarta, Indonesia, on Jan 19, 2017. (Photo: REUTERS/Fatima El-Kareem) - 

Voinews, Singapore - Indonesia's central bank kept policy rates steady on Wednesday (Feb 21), as expected, and maintained that it would likely have room to cut borrowing costs in the second half of the year, despite market predictions of an earlier easing.

Growth in Southeast Asia's largest economy fell slightly last year amid falling commodity prices, though at 5.1 per cent, it remained one of the fastest among countries in the Group of 20 major economies.

Some economists expect economic growth to remain around that level as last week's presidential and parliamentary elections and the expected smooth transition of power in October affect investment decisions.

Bank Indonesia (BI) left unchanged its benchmark 7-day reverse repurchase rate steady at 6.00 per cent, where it has been since October, saying current levels were consistent with efforts to keep the rupiah currency stable and inflation in check.

The move was widely expected by economists polled by Reuters. A majority of economists in the survey also predicted BI would deliver its first rate cut starting from the next quarter to sustain solid growth levels.

At a press conference after the policy meeting, Governor Perry Warjiyo said BI's baseline scenario remained that its policy pivot would be in the second half, highlighting its expectation for the US central bank to also cut rates in the same period.

"The BI rate for sometime will be kept unchanged. Be patient. Until when? We have already given a hint that the baseline plan is in the second half," Warjiyo said, adding any easing hinges on inflation and movements in the rupiah's exchange rate.

The governor focused his commentary on external factors, arguing that better-than-previously-anticipated global growth would help Indonesia's economic expansion this year, though he also warned of risks from potential supply chain disruption from geopolitical tensions and recession in some countries.

BI kept its 2024 economic growth forecast at a range of 4.7 per cent to 5.5 per cent.

Inflation in Indonesia has stayed within BI's target range since the middle of last year, with the central bank's 250 basis points (bps) in rate hikes between August 2022 to October 2023 keeping price pressures in check.

The rupiah, down about 1.7 per cent against the US dollar so far this year, strengthened by 0.16 per cent following BI's decision.

"With the recent elections laying the ground for stability and policy continuity, the central bank is likely to be focused on the spillover risks from global developments and geopolitics, including Red Sea disruptions, while staying on an extended pause," said DBS economist Radhika Rao.

Markets had cheered the victory of Defence Minister Prabowo Subianto, after so-called quick ballot counts by independent pollsters showed he had won the presidency with nearly 60 per cent of votes.

However, economists and rating agencies have also flagged rising fiscal risks due to costly campaign promises by Prabowo.

Asked about the election outcome, Warjiyo underlined that the central bank is by law independent from the government and that it would work with the incoming administration in accordance with the laws//CNA-VOI

Archive; Indonesian Foreign Affairs Minister, Retno Marsudi during a press confrence on ASEAN Ministerial Summit 2023 (Photo: NK-VOI) - 

Voinews, Jakarta - The international court of justice (ICJ) will hold hearings on the status and legal consequences of the Israeli occupation of Palestine.

Therefore the Indonesian foreign affairs minister, Retno Marsudi will deliver Indonesia's statement on February 23rd 2024 in The Hague.

The UN General Assembly previously requested the ICJ to give an advisory opinion on the legal consequences of Israel’s prolonged occupation in Palestine. The ICJ’s advisory opinion is said to carry great legal weight despite not being legally binding. 

53 countries and 3 international organisation are scheduled to deliver oral statement.

According to ICJ’s official website, aside from Indonesia, countries such as Qatar and the UK are scheduled to deliver their statements later that day. China and Malaysia will have their turns the day before.

The public hearing that Retno will soon attend is a different track than what South Africa is pursuing. South Africa not long ago brought a genocide case against Israel at the ICJ.

Indonesia cannot join this lawsuit as it is not a signatory to the Genocide Convention, which becomes the basis of South Africa’s lawsuit. Even so, Indonesia has voiced its support for what South Africa is doing at the ICJ//VOI

President Joko Widodo and First Lady Iriana showed their little finger after voting - 

Voinews, Jakarta - President Joko Widodo hopes that the 2024 General Elections can be participated in by all Indonesian people happily. After exercising his right to vote at poll station (TPS) 10 Gambir in Central Jakarta, Wednesday morning (14/2), President Joko Widod expressed his hope that the implementation of the elections will run according to the principles: direct, public, free, confidential, honest and fair.

“This is a party of democracy; we hope that this will be the party of the people, and will also take place fairly, and overflowingly, and will be participated in by all Indonesian people with joy. Because, this is a people's party, a party of democracy”, President Jokowi stated. 

After voting, President Joko Widodo further said that he would immediately return to the palace to monitor the quick election count. He and First Lady Iriana Joko Widodo arrived at TPS 10 Gambir in Central Jakarta, Wednesday morning at around 08.48 to vote. At the TPS, President Joko Widodo registered as a permanent voter list with number 50, while Mrs. Iriana is registered with number 47//(/trans-yati/Sekretariat Presiden/PNA)