VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

President Joko Widodo appointed Budi Gunadi Sadikin as Minister of Health and Dante Saksono Harbuwono as his deputy (Wamenkes) in the Advanced Indonesian Cabinet for 2019-2024 at the State Palace in Jakarta on Wednesday.

Sadikin, who replaced Terawan Agus Putranto, has said his first task as Health Minister will be to bring the COVID-19 pandemic under control. In a short speech after being nominated to the post (December 22, 2020), he had said that measures to bring the pandemic under control need to be inclusive so that all citizens can resume their normal lives.

"It is impossible for the Ministry of Health to do it exclusively, we have to do it inclusively. And we believe that the government is not enough to make its own program, but it must be a movement carried out with the Indonesian people," the Minister of Health stated in a press release, issued by the Communication and Community Service Bureau of the Ministry of Health on Wednesday.

Born in Bogor, May 6, 1964, Sadikin played a role in the early days of the pandemic in opening up international networks and mobilizing domestic resources to procure 20 PCR test kits with a capacity of more than 10 thousand tests per day, or 28 percent of the national capacity. He also worked on the procurement of COVID-19 vaccines and the establishment of a system for implementing and distributing vaccines, as well as the procurement of COVID-19 therapeutic drugs.

In addition, Sadikin, or BGS, has been actively monitoring and managing 70 state-owned (BUMN) hospitals in their COVID-19 handling efforts, one of which has been increasing the bed capacity at BUMN Hospital to more than 6,500.

BGS has earlier served as president director of Bank Mandiri, president director of PT Asahan Aluminum, and deputy minister of state-owned enterprises (BUMN).

President Widodo has appointed diabetes expert Dante Saksono Harbuwono as Deputy Minister of Health (Wamenkes).

His inauguration as the Deputy Minister is based on Presidential Decree (Kepres) Number 76 / M / 2020 concerning the Dismissal and Appointment of Deputy State Ministers of the Advanced Indonesian Cabinet for the 2019-2024 Period.

In the reading of the oath, led by President Widodo, all the newly inaugurated ministers and deputy ministers promised to do their best with a full sense of responsibility towards the nation and state.

"By Allah, I swear that I will be loyal to the 1945 Constitution and will carry out all laws and regulations in the best possible way for the sake of my devotion to the nation and state," they pledged. (antaranews)

Law and Human Rights Minister Yasonna Laoly laid emphasis on the importance of solidarity among people to surmount the pressure arising from the COVID-19 pandemic.

"The COVID-19 pandemic is sweeping the entire world and has several impacts on various aspects of life. Many families are grieving the loss of their relatives. Many people lose their jobs, while children, who have to study at home, lose out on the opportunity to hang out with friends," Laoly stated while delivering a speech at the virtual Christmas celebrations of the Filipino business community in Indonesia on Tuesday.

The minister affirmed that such a crisis situation exposes the extent of vulnerability of humans. The high pressure arising from the pandemic has easily encumbered scores of individuals in despair.

"This is why we humans need one another to survive. We must support one another," the PDI-P politician stated.

Laoly believes that the current challenging situation made Christmas celebrations more meaningful for Christians worldwide.

"The power of God's love and presence enables us all to feel loyalty and solidarity between family and friends in our respective circles," he stated.

The 67-year-old minister also highlighted the Indonesian government’s commitment to helping Filipino expatriates in the country through various policies that make their lives easier in the midst of such difficult times.

As a community of foreign citizens in Indonesia, the Filipinos must continue to support and care for one another. Laoly noted that this year's Christmas will bolster ties among fellow community members.

"As representatives of the Indonesian government, I guarantee you that we will always be ready to support all your needs," the minister reiterated.

Coordinating Maritime Affairs and Investment Minister Luhut Binsar Panjaitan earlier made a serious and urgent request to all sides to curtail a potential spike in the number of people exposed to COVID-19 during the year-end holidays.

"(We have) perceived an uptrend in the number of year-end holidaymakers. This must be controlled so as not to add (to the count of) people exposed to COVID-19," the minister noted after attending the Indonesia-China Tourism and Investment Forum for five Key Super-Priority Tourism Destinations on Friday.

The uptrend in the number of year-end vacationers is apparent from the frequency of flights at the Silangit Airport in North Tapanuli, North Sumatra.

Panjaitan noted that domestic tourists hold huge potential to support national tourism, especially in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic that had led to a shortfall in foreign tourist arrivals.

"However, all must exercise self-restraint in (keeping with) the interests of the nation. The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted all aspects (of our lives), including the economy, thereby reducing the people's welfare," he remarked.

All people should follow health protocols, including wearing masks, washing hands, and maintaining physical distancing while venturing outdoors, he noted.

On Friday, Indonesia had reported 6,689 new COVID-19 cases over a 24-hour period, thereby bringing the total case tally to 650,197 since the country announced its first infections on March 2, 2020.

According to data from the National Task Force for COVID-19 Handling, the number of recoveries rose by 5,016 in the 24-hour period, taking the total count of patients recovering from the virus to 531,995.

The country also reported 124 fatalities across the nation, which brought the death toll to 19,514. (antaranews)

Russian Ambassador to Indonesia Lyudmila Vorobieva hopes that Indonesia and Russia can immediately sign a strategic partnership between the two countries.

In a press statement that was held virtually on Wednesday (23/12/2020), Ambassador Lyudmila said that the signing was supposed to take place in 2020 when the two heads of state met on the agenda of the High-Level Conference as part of the 70th anniversary of cooperation between Indonesia and Russia.

However, according to her, the agenda should be postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

"As you know the plan Summit between our two leaders to commemorate the 70th anniversary of bilateral relations did not happen this year because of the pandemic," Vorobieva said.

"We hope that the Summit will take place after the pandemic is over probably next year if the conditions are favorable and we will sign final declaration on Strategic Partnership between our two countries," she added.

Ambassador Lyudmila Vorobieva further said that during 2020 or during the Covid-19 pandemic, the value of trade and investment cooperation between Indonesia and Russia did not change significantly.

Therefore, she hopes that the strategic cooperation between the two countries can be signed soon so bilateral cooperation between the two countries can be increased. (VOI/Andy)

Vietnamese Ambassador to Indonesia Pham Vinh Quang urged to intensify bilateral cooperation between both nations to cover new sectors, including digital technology, particularly to face the post-COVID-19 pandemic economic situation.

Indonesia and Vietnam commemorated the 65th anniversary of diplomatic ties this year. Quang remarked that the COVID-19 pandemic that rages on this year has had social and economic impacts and disrupted implementation of the partnership agenda between both nations.

"The governments of the two countries must expand their collaboration to cover new fields, such as digital technology, new technology, intellectual property rights and clean energy, smart city (...) and startup ecosystem, with the aim of seizing opportunities in the Industrial Revolution 4.0 era," the ambassador noted in a written interview with ANTARA on Wednesday.

Under the bilateral trade, Vietnam exported farm, forestry, and fishery products to Indonesia, while Indonesia exported manufactured goods, automotive components, coal, paper, and palm oil to Vietnam.

Trade between the two countries rose by 60 percent, from US$5.6 billion in 2014 to US$9.1 billion in 2019. In 2020, trade value is projected to increase to US$20 billion.

"However, the COVID-19 pandemic has prevented us from achieving the target, and that the governments and businessmen of the two countries need to be proactive to increase two-way strong, balanced, and sustainable trade," Quang emphasized.

Akin to most countries, the COVID-19 pandemic has also severely battered the tourism sector, both in Indonesia and Vietnam, especially owing to the restriction policy adopted by their governments to contain the spread of COVID-19, he stated.

Indonesia has begun promoting a new normal in the tourism sector that applies to both tourists and tourism operators through the InDOnesiaCARE Program that lays emphasis on health protocols to fight COVID-19 transmission in the tourism business.

"Last year, Vietnam and Indonesia had welcomed 18 million foreign tourists. We can cooperate and share experiences in again attracting foreign tourists during the post-pandemic era wherein health and cleanliness play a key role," he added. (antaranews)