VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Feb. 10 - The Communication and Informatics Ministry is set to block the Tiktokcash site that offers users a sum of money after watching videos on the TikTok platform.

"The Communication and Informatics Ministry has blocked Tiktokcash.com and is in the process of blocking the Tiktokcash social media platform," the ministry’s spokesman, Dedy Permadi, stated here on Wednesday.

The website was blocked, as it serves "electronic transaction which violates the law."

By Wednesday afternoon, the Tiktokecash.com could still be accessed. The operator of the website in the notification appearing on the main site admitted to having received "attack/hoax news” after gaining popularity.

The notification, coming under the name of Asia Pacific Tiktokcash, said it is coordinating with the law enforcement agency to handle the case.

The Tiktokcash site has offered a sum of money to users after watching videos on the Tiktok short video platform.

The site claimed to be a platform "connecting Tiktok users to internet celebrity economy"

Before obtaining the money, internet users should register with the site by enclosing cellular phone numbers and the e-mail address.

Tiktokcash offers membership packages, ranging from "temporary job" at Rp89,000 valid for eight days, to "general manager" at Rp49,999,000 valid for 365 days.

TikTok Indonesia Communication Chief Catherine Siswoyo stated that the site is not affiliated to the Tiktok platform.

"Only recently we learned that a website uses the TikTok name and asks money from users. The website is by no means affiliated to TikTok. We will not ask and have never asked money from you," she clarified.

TikTok appealed to users to remain cautious about such an offer. (Antaranews)

Feb. 10 - Business leaders from 21 Asia-Pacific economies, at this week’s virtual meeting, discussed ways to unitedly tackle COVID-19 and rebuild the region’s economies, according to the APEC Business Advisory Council’s release issued and received here, Wednesday.

"We are living through the crisis of a century, and strength comes from our determination to work together," Chair of the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC) Rachel Taulelei stated.

"Overcoming the current adversity, whether it is by restoring public health, reopening borders, securing economic recovery, or achieving more equitable communities, demands constructive, creative, and above all, collaborative approaches," Taulelei noted.

The ABAC chair further emphasized that the need for such coordinated thinking has been brought home very vividly by the spectre of vaccine export restrictions.

"It remains true, as it has been since the start of this crisis, that we all remain vulnerable if any of us remains vulnerable," Taulelei cautioned.

Taulelei made the remarks after the first ABAC meeting of 2021 that was opened with an address from Prime Minister of New Zealand Jacinda Ardern.

“The focus this year at ABAC is on people, place, and prosperity -- the three elements that are all essential to creating the kind of societies we want to live in," she explained.

"Inclusion for all people is our North Star – so we will be working on how to ensure access for all to COVID vaccinations, essential goods and food supplies; how small businesses can operate on a level playing field; and how to empower women and indigenous populations for success," she stated.

Taulelei emphasized that to achieve a prosperous region, especially after the body-blows of 2020, demands that the most fundamental of APEC goals are free and open markets.

"That means building a seamless Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific and championing the World Trade Organization, including initiatives to keep supply chains functioning and trade flowing as well as the reopening of borders and resumption of travel that will revive the region’s economic growth," she affirmed.

According to Taulelei, the requisite efforts to encourage economic recovery should be supported by the practice of digital economy.

"Digital tools are fundamental to resilience, sustainability, and inclusion. Emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence, can unleash even greater opportunities – but we need a trusted, interoperable enabling environment to realize that potential," she reiterated.

Taulelei also noted that the APEC Putrajaya Vision, agreed by APEC Leaders late last year, provided an imperative to act.

"The vision calls for an open, dynamic, resilient, and peaceful Asia-Pacific community by 2040. The road to get there will not be easy, but the business of business is solving problems – and ABAC is ready and eager for the challenge," Taulelei concluded.  (Antaranews)

Feb. 10 - Several personnel from the Indonesia-Papua New Guinea (PNG) Border Security Task Force and Keerom police precinct worked with residents of Arso sub-district in Keerom district, Papua, to repair a damaged bridge in Arsotami village.

“Essentially, soldiers are from the people, by the people, and for the people,” deputy commander of the Indonesia-PNG Border Security Task Force's 312/KH Infantry Battalion, Capt.Mansyur H Alam, said in a statement issued here on Wednesday.

A joint team from the task force and Keerom police was deployed to the village to repair the bridge which was damaged in recent flooding in several parts of Arso sub-district, Alam said.

Local residents assisted the soldiers and policemen with the repairs as the bridge is vital for the mobility of people and goods near the Indonesia-PNG land border, he informed.

"Helping our people living near the Indonesia-PNG land border is part of our priorities," Alam remarked.

Floods struck parts of Keerom district on February 3, 2021, submerging residential and office areas following incessant heavy rains since February 2, which caused the Tami River to breach its banks.

Floodwaters inundated the Arso Swakarsa-Arso II area, Arso City, and the villages of Asyaman, Yanamaa, Walukubun, Workwana, and Pitewi.

The East Arso Police Sector office was also inundated, deputy chief of the Keerom Resort Police, Commissioner Martha Tolau, informed when contacted from Jayapura.

Police deployed personnel to help residents whose settlements were affected by flooding.

"Several police officers have been deployed to help the flood-stricken residents," she confirmed.

ANTARA has reported on how the Indonesia-PNG Border Security Task Force has been helping locals in Papua province through community services, such as voluntary teaching, serving mobile library, and street cleanup programs.

The task force recently initiated a street cleanup program in Mosso village in Muara Tami subdistrict, Jayapura city. Along with Mosso villagers, several members of the task force removed dirt and debris from the village's streets.

The soldiers who participated in the community service belonged to the Army Strategic Reserves Command's (Kostrad's) Raider 413 Mechanic Infantry Battalion, according to the task force's commander, Major Anggun Wuriyanto.

The residents were enthusiastic to join the street cleanup program, he said.

"We hope the street cleaning activity will be a routine program to keep Mosso village clean and healthy," he added.

He then urged the village's youth to lead efforts to keep their village clean, healthy, and secure.  (Antaranews)

Feb. 10 - Vice Minister of Trade Jerry Sambuaga affirmed that the ministry will continue to facilitate small- and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs) to boost their competitiveness to penetrate the export market.

"Currently, Indonesia is transforming from an exporter of raw material and semi-finished products into an exporter of industrial products and high-tech industrial products," Sambuaga noted in a statement here on Wednesday.

Some sectors that have demonstrated concrete transformation are the automotive, jewelry, and iron and steel industry that provide high wages for workers and involve several SMEs in the country.

Sambuaga highlighted the need for joint efforts to identify products of SMEs that can be promoted in the international market and to improve their quality.

"With accurate identification by all stakeholders, we hope to be able to develop various SME products of high potential to make their way into the global market," he affirmed.

The vice minister also applauded the works of trade representatives abroad, including the trade attaché and the Indonesian Trade Promotion Center, that actively promote Indonesia's trade policies, organize business counseling, and conduct business matching.  (Antaranews)