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January
The year 2020 has just begun and it has already shocked the world with an outbreak of a new type of Coronavirus, known as the Novel coronavirus. The virus which allegedly originated in Wuhan, China has already claimed the lives of about 80 people, as reported by the BBC.
The Novel coronavirus was first identified on December 31 in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China. With an estimated population of 11 million, Wuhan is decked with connections to every part of the globe. This raises concerns about the spread of this virus to other cities in China, as well as outside the country.
With characteristics similar to SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) and the same risk of death, the virus is reported to have already spread to various countries. As of Sunday (26/01), there were 13 countries that confirmed the existence of coronavirus cases, including Indonesia’s neighbours, Singapore and Malaysia.
How about in Indonesia? What actions are being taken by the government to prevent the entry of this deadly disease?
Until Sunday night there has been no official confirmation from the government regarding cases of Indonesian citizens, overseas, especially China, or at home, who were positively exposed to the coronavirus. Several regions in Indonesia reported suspected coronavirus cases, such as in Jambi and Jakarta. Most patients are suspected to have a history of travel to and from China. But so far no one has been confirmed positive contracting the coronavirus. Various attempts have been made by the Indonesian government to prevent the entry of this new type of coronavirus. Among others by installing Thermal Scanners in several airports in Indonesia. In addition, as many as 100 hospitals have been prepared by the Indonesian Ministry of Health as a reference for infectious diseases with emerging symptoms. Patients suspected of being infected with this virus can be immediately examined and isolated at the referral hospitals.
The government's action to prevent the entry of the deadly coronavirus into Indonesia should be appreciated. However, besides prevention efforts at home, another thing to consider is the fate of Indonesian citizens in China. Like Indonesian students who are continuing their education at several universities in Wuhan, the city that was the source of the coronavirus. They are trapped in Wuhan and are unable to get out because the city has now been isolated. For this reason, the Indonesian government must take the necessary actions to ensure the safety of its citizens wherever they are.
Last but not least, the public also need to get enough information about what the coronavirus is, the symptoms, and how to prevent it.
Hopefully, the efforts made by the government and the community can prevent Indonesia from becoming a country that is confirmed to have patients infected with this deadly coronavirus.
January
The Financial Services Authority (OJK) was established in 2011 through Law No. 21/2011. The OJK is an independent financial institution that seeks to replace the role of the Capital Market and Financial Institution Supervisory Agency (Bapepam-LK). With the establishment of the OJK, the regulation and supervision of the Capital Market and Non-Bank Financial Industry automatically switches to the OJK. The people of Indonesia expect the OJK to be able to oversee the financial and banking sector in Indonesia. Unfortunately, this hope has lately been tarnished after PT Asuransi Jiwasraya failed to pay its customers. As a result of this, a discourse arises whether OJK is still needed to oversee various financial institutions. The discourse about the dissolution of the OJK emerged from the parliament. Deputy Speaker of the Indonesian House of Representatives, Sufmi Dasco Ahmad acknowledged that the OJK discourse was dissolved and that the OJK's duty and authority may be returned to Bank Indonesia (BI). The OJK which has the authority to oversee banks, capital markets and non-bank financial institutions such as insurance companies is deemed to have failed to carry out its supervisory duties. This is proven by PT Asuransi Jiwasraya's failure to pay its customers. But the question arises whether OJK needs to be dissolved (?)
Other countries also have supervisory institutions such as the OJK. Some financial supervision institutions that have been operating successfully until now are the BaFin in Germany and the Japan Financial Services Agency (JFSA) in Japan. However, some were disbanded after failing to carry out their supervisory duties, for example, the Financial Services Authority (FSA) in The United Kingdom. Seeing the experience of other countries such as Britain, the discourse to dissolve the OJK could be a reality. However, even though there is a possibility of dissolving, it is expected that the OJK will not be dissolved.
There are two main reasons why OJK may not be dissolved. The first reason is that the OJK has been existing for eight years and has some achievements. So far, the regulation and supervision conducted by the OJK in the banking sector has been quite adequate. There are weaknesses in the non-bank financial industry, as recognized by Chairman of the OJK Board of Commissioner, Wimboh Santoso, during a working meeting with the House of Representatives (DPR) at the Parliamentary Complex in Jakarta, Wednesday (1/22/2020). The OJK has admitted that it is carrying out reforms in the non-bank financial industry. These reforms have been carried out by the OJK since 2018. Now, with the problem of PT Asuransi Jiwasraya's failure to pay, the reform efforts in the non-bank financial industry needs to be accelerated. The second reason is that the development of the financial industry in Indonesia is quite rapid and complex. Thus, the presence of an institution such as the OJK is indispensable to the rapid development of the financial industry.
January
Based on ‘Omnibus Law to Create Employment’, the Government and Parliament must explain it to the Community
Written by nuke
The government has finished the draft of the Omnibus Law to Create Employment. This week, the draft will be submitted to the House of Representatives (DPR) and is targeted to be completed within three months. Omnibus law is a law created to target one major issue that might revoke or amend several laws to be simplified. So far, the government has scrutinized 74 laws that will be affected by the omnibus law. According to President Joko Widodo, if the government only combines the laws one by one and then submits a revision to the DPR, the process can take time more than 50 years. Based on the omnibus law, the existing laws that are viewed to hamper can be revised simultaneously.
In fact, there are two Omnibus Laws submitted by the government to the DPR. They are Omnibus Law to Create Employment and Omnibus Law of Taxation. However, the Omnibus Law to Create Employment is criticized by a lot of people, remembering that there are some points in the omnibus law draft, that are unacceptable. Because, they think that this will threaten the welfare of workers, such as the imposition of workers’ hourly wages. The workers assume there is an effort to eliminate the minimum wage by setting the hourly wage. In other words, if the workers work fewer than 40 hours a week, their wages will automatically be below the minimum wage. On the contrary, according to the government, this hourly wage regulation does not eliminate the minimum wage rule. This rule gives flexibility to business entities or companies in providing salaries to temporary workers. The rules for hourly wage schemes are intended to accommodate certain types of work, such as consultants and part-time workers. In addition, the hourly wage payment rules are intended to accommodate new types of work in the digital economy industry with millennial workers who want flexible working hours. Based on this, socialization is needed for the community to understand correctly what the objectives of the government are in making regulations. Thus, bias information amid the community can be prevented. Now, the DPR's task to study the draft Omnibus Law proposed by the government is whether it is advantageous or disadvantageous to the community. The task of the parliament members is also to provide a correct explanation to the people they represent, and the reasons for their decision on the draft of the omnibus law.
January
A mysterious virus outbreak suddenly shook the world. Corona Virus, as it was called, made the World Health Organization -WHO hold an emergency session to discuss the case. From China, it was reported that there are 17 new cases. Chinese officials claim that the Corona virus has caused SARS-like symptoms and caused the sufferer to be in a critical condition. Anxiety arises because of its relationship with Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome-SARS, which killed nearly 650 people throughout mainland China and Hong Kong in 2002-2003. In China itself Corona was declared to attack people aged between 30 to 79 years, and reportedly has infected 62 people, eight of whom are in critical condition. The French news agency AFP even reported that the virus had infected at least 218 people. China's official said that the virus could spread quickly to three neighboring countries of China.
The development of this mysterious Corona virus led WHO to hold an emergency meeting on Wednesday, January 22, 2020. It is likely that WHO will determine whether the Corona virus is a virus that can cause a crisis and endanger the community, so it must become a national and even international concern.
The virus, with its technical name, 2019 Novel Coronavirus or 2019-nCoV, was confirmed by the Chinese government by stating that the first case was found on January 20, 2020 in South Guang Dong province.
If the WHO at its meeting in its headquarters in Geneva stated that the Corona virus caused a world health emergency situation, then it could be ascertained that it was the cause of a very dangerous pandemic.
As with the Ebola virus, which once worried the world, there must be a very serious effort to deal with Corona.
January
The simultaneous General Elections of the President and the Legislature took place just eight months ago, in April 2019. While the next General Election is still four years away, the excitement in the political arena has already begun.
The discourse of an increase in the parliamentary threshold from 4 percent to 5 percent is circulating among political parties in the Indonesian House of Representatives.
The discussions have developed since the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) held its first National Working Meeting in 2020 between January 10-12.
It produced nine recommendations, one of which was that the parliamentary threshold was to be increased to 5 percent. The PDI-P proposal received both positive and negative responses from a number of political parties in the DPR.
Some parties appreciate it for it may help improve the quality of democracy in Indonesia. However, there were also some parties that objected to the proposed increase in parliamentary threshold.
According to those who support this discourse, an increase in the parliamentary threshold will help reduce the number of political parties. But those who did not get a large number of votes in the 2019 elections, the proposed increase would not be effective enough to simplify the number of political parties. Instead, it will only make the votes won by parties that do not qualify be wasted.
Indeed, the increase in parliamentary thresholds has happened several times in the electoral system in Indonesia. Since 2009 until now the number has continued to increase from 2.5 percent to 3 percent, and then to 4 percent.
It should be noted that in the 2014 elections, there were only 12 national parties and three local parties in Aceh that participated in the election. While in the 2019 elections, with a threshold of 4 percent, the number of parties participating in the contestation actually increased to 16 national parties and four parties in Aceh. This shows that an increase in parliamentary threshold is not very effective in reducing the number of political parties participating in elections. It only made the votes casted for parties which fell below the threshold become wasted.
An increase in the parliamentary threshold from 4 percent to 5 percent might improve the quality of democracy in Indonesia. However, the reality on the ground also needs to be considered.
January
There is no endless storm. There is no war that lasts forever. Maybe, that's the right phrase to describe the new phase of the United States and China trade war that has occurred for two years and caused a slowdown in the global economy. United States President, Donald Trump and Chinese Deputy Prime Minister, Liu He signed the first phase of a trade peace agreement on Wednesday 15 January at a meeting at the White House. Even though this phase I agreement has been signed, the US will still impose tariffs on imported goods from China until there is a phase II agreement. However, the US agreed to suspend tariffs on a number of electronic products worth $ 160 billion US dollars. The tariff is valid on December 15, 2019. This phase I agreement is expected to be a good start after the two countries are involved in a trade war. However , many parties still doubted what would happen after the signing of this first phase of the trade agreement.
The thing that can be underlined is that in the agreement China will buy more goods from America. This will slightly cover the impact of trade wars that have been felt by America for 2 years. The impression is that the agreement that was signed last did produce several victories for the US. Because China agreed to buy US goods of around US $ 200 billion. More over, in the next two yearsUS companies will get more access to the Chinese market, and more intellectual property protection. But the Chinese economy is actually also seen as getting a short-term boost from the trade agreement. There are some stimulatory measures, such as more spending by local governments, lower taxes, and more bank credit. A ceasefire can also help reduce the slump in business and investment sentiment in China.
The question now, how is the impact on countries whose economy has also been affected by the American-Chinese trade war so far? In 2020, the tariff rates that have been applied or announced will make global economic growth drop 0.8 percent. This was revealed by IMF Managing Director, Kristalina Georgiva. Global economic conditions have already been affected by the trade war that has occurred over the past 2 years.
Of course, the world community welcomes phase I of the trade agreement between America and China. Yet, the effects of a trade war need time to recover. For the internal conditions of China and America and globally as well. Hopefully, the next phase of the trade agreement will immediately accelerate the improvement of the global economy.
January
In a limited cabinet meeting on Wednesday (16/1), President Joko Widodo instructed his ministers to immediately finish the law which can accelerate national economy in 2020. Omnibus Law is made to target one great issue that can revoke or amend some laws to be simpler. To stimulate economic growth, the Indonesian government must move quickly so that the 5.5 percent economic growth projection in 2020 can be achieved. There are three focuses in the 2020 Omnibus Law, namely tax, providing employment, as well as empowering micro small and medium enterprises. In the limited cabinet meeting, the President targeted the Omnibus Law for employment and tax to be finished before 100 working day of Indonesian cabinet Onward. Therefore, he instructed all ministries and institutions, including National Police, State Intelligence Agency (BIN), and Attorney General Office to build one-way communication, as well as to communicate with involved organizations. President Joko Widodo hoped the Omnibus Law discussion can be finished soon. Because it can make Indonesia a country with good business ecosystem. Meanwhile, Coordinating Minister of Economic Affairs, Airlangga Hartarto said that the Omnibus Law bill is ready to be ratified before 2020 Idul Fitri. According to him, the discussion in government’s internal level had been finished. Therefore, he ensured the bill can be submitted to the House of Representatives immediately to be ratified. One of the main priorities under development in the Omnibus Law bill is manpower. The Omnibus Law is needed to increase Indonesian economic growth that was stagnant in 2019. The bureaucracy complexity that hampers business activities is the main target in the bill making. Therefore, Omnibus Law completion and implementation are very needed for the government as long as for prosperity and welfare of the people. However, it should be carefully checked again if related parties can make win-win solution for the developing and more complex current economic issues.
January
The sound of gunfire and bomb explosions are not heard anymore at the moment in Libya. Two warring camps. namely, the Government of National Accord (GNA) and the Libyan National Army (LNA), January 13, 2020 agreed a ceasefire. The agreement was reached at a meeting in Moscow. which was attended by LNA Commander, Khalifa Haftar and GNA Leader Fayez al Serraj. The decision was received positively by various parties including Russian President Vladimir Putin and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. As is known Russia and Turkey each supports the opposite party.
Although there has been an agreement, and the use of heavy weapons and bombs has not been heard, but sometimes the sound of gunfire can still be heard here and there though on a small scale. Therefore the United Nations urges both parties to abide by the ceasefire. Calls to both parties to keep commitments were also made by the Arab League and the European Union.
In Tripoli various foreign representatives through their respective Ambassadors, urged the Libyan people to use this peaceful opportunity to rise and overcome various problems, such as political, economic and security. Calls to the two warring parties for an immediate end to the fighting were also conveyed by the Arab League. Conflicts and the civil war have occurred in Libya since almost a decade ago. The chaos began when Muamamar Gaddafi, who was the Leader of the Libyan Revolution, was overthrown in 2011 through a revolt. Since then, the oil-rich Lybia split into two camps namely GNA and LNA, which respectively controlled the East and West. The conflicts have destroyed the country's economy and disrupted world oil supplies. It is in this perspective that a number of countries view the resolution of the crisis as very important so that oil supply from Libya to various countries will return to normal.
To what extent did the ceasefire agreed in Moscow become a momentum for peace in Lybia? All depends on the further steps to be taken. The leaders of the two warring sides must be able to use the opportunity of a ceasefire to bring peace to the oil-rich nation.
January
President Joko Widodo Visits Abu Dhabi To Fetch Investment
Written by Maryati
Indonesian President Joko Widodo left for Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates on Sunday morning (12/01). Some of the agendas to be carried out by President Joko Widodo include bilateral meetings with the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and attending the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week meeting. In the forum, President Joko Widodo will be the keynote speaker to discuss sustainable development, and energy.
However, the most important goal of the President Jokowi's visit to Abu Dhabi is a meeting with the Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed. Besides talking about matters relating to Islam and Wakaf or endowments, both parties will also expand cooperation in the investment sector.
The visit to the United Arab Emirates is President Joko Widodo's first overseas working visit in 2020 carried out as a follow-up to the UAE Crown Prince's visit to Indonesia in June last year. The president intends to 'fetch' an investment of 4 billion US dollars to be disbursed by the United Arab Emirates. During a visit to Abu Dhabi, President Joko Widodo is scheduled to sign four Memorandums of Understanding in the investment sector.
The first cooperation is Balikpapan Refinery project between the Emirates’ oil and gas company, Mubadalah and PT Pertamina from Indonesia. The second one is Balongan Refinery project, which will be undertaken by Pertamina along with another company from the Emirates, Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (Adnoc). The third cooperation is the employment contract between Enterprise Global Aluminum (EGA) and PT Indonesia Asahan Aluminum (Inalum), and the fourth one is a working project between PT PLN Indonesia and Masdar in a floating solar power plant project in Cirata Reservoir, West Java.
Data from the Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM) on 31 October 2019 shows Singapore is still listed as the highest country to invest in Indonesia with an investment value of US$ 1.9 billion dollars, followed by the Netherlands at US$ 1.4 billion, and China with a value of US$1 billion dollars.
In 2020, the BKPM targets an investment achievement worth Rp886 trillion. The influx of large amount of investment is expected to help the economy continue grow amid a global economic slowdown.
United Arab Emirates' investment in Indonesia worth US$ 4 billion dollars or Rp56 trillion shows the country's high level of confidence in the investment climate in Indonesia. This also shows that Indonesia is still an attractive country to invest and proves that the level of global investors’ confidence in Indonesia is still quite good.
The signing of the four Memorandums of Understanding (MoU) in the field of investment between Indonesia and the United Arab Emirates is also expected to further enhance world confidence in the investment sector in Indonesia.
January
Ahead of year-end 2019, Indonesia was shocked by the entry of foreign vessels, the China Coast Guard and its fishing vessels into Natuna region. With the Nine Dash Lines principle from the outermost point of China, China considers Natuna waters as its territory.
For several times, Indonesian sea areas rich in marine products have been entered by foreign ships, especially for illegal fishing purposes. When Susi Pujiastuti was Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries in the last cabinet, foreign vessels caught to steal fish in Indonesian territory were even sunk. But now it is different, China not only illegally caught sea products, but also claimed Indonesia's sea area as its own territory. Even when the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a memorandum of protest over this action, China still reasoned with its Nine Dash-Lines argument.
Now, Indonesia's diplomacy must be pursued more intensively. In addition, patrols in the Natuna Sea must also be strengthened. Indonesian Foreign Minister, Retno Marsudi has reminded China that China is also bound by the United Nations Convention for the Law of the Sea -UNCLOS 1982 which ensures the outermost points of Indonesia, complete with Exclusive Economic Zones. China's claim to Natuna waters which refers to the nine dash-lines is not based on UNCLOS 1982. China is one of the UNCLOS member countries, that is obliged to respect its implementation.
Obviously in Natuna waters, China has the courage to maneuver, because the investment promised by China to Indonesia is quite high. It is not clear exactly where the relationship is. However, the issue of the magnitude of Chinese investment in Indonesia should not be a burden for Indonesian government to deal with Chinese maneuvers in the Natuna region. The sovereignty of the Indonesian nation is the most important aspect that must be guarded and maintained.