VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

The Indonesian National Police’s counterterrorism squad, Densus 88, has arrested a suspected terrorist, identified as Zulkarnaen, in Lampung province over his alleged role in the 2001 Bali bombing case.

Zulkarnaen alias Aris Sumarsono alias Daud alias Zaenal Arifin alias Abdulrahman, who had been on the run, was arrested without resistance in Gang Kolibri, Toto Harjo, Purbolinggo, Lampung Timur district, Lampung province, chief of the public relations division of the National Police, Inspector General Raden Prabowo Argo Yuwono, told ANTARA in Jakarta on Saturday night.

Zulkarnaen, 57, had been named a fugitive in the 2001 Bali bombing case.

"Zulkarnaen was the chief of Jamaah Islamiyah soldiers when Bali Bombing I occurred," Argo informed.

Zulkarnaen was suspected of hiding Upik Lawangan alias Taufik Bulaga alias Udin, who was arrested by Densus 88 in Lampung Tengah district on November 23, 2020.

Zulkarnaen was also allegedly involved in the creation of a special task force which was later involved in the Bali bombing and conflicts in Poso and Ambon, Argo said.

The two suspected terrorists from Sragen district, Central Java, had studied four semesters in the faculty of biology at a leading university in Yogyakarta in the 1980s, he added. (Antaranews)

Sharia national economy which relies on the real sector is highly resistant to a crisis situation, Professor Dian Masyita of the School of Economics and Business of Padjadjaran University (Unpad) said here on Saturday.

The real sector plays a role in fulfilling the people's basic needs and has a wide-ranging multiple effect on many fields including the creation of jobs, she said.

In addition, sharia national economy also has large potential to grow in the country with the largest Muslim population in the world, she said.

However, she added the country still has a lot of challenges to address especially in the sharia financial sector including the people's low literacy rate inclusion.

In the sharia capital market, a lack of products issued by companies also posed a major hindrance to the development of sharia economy, she said.

"There are a lot of common tasks to be accomplished in 2021," she said.

To address the challenges of sharia economy, PT Prudential Life Assurance (Prudential Indonesia) launched PRULink Syariah Rupiah Multi Asset Fund.

"This is one of the solutions to drive the Indonesian people to invest in sharia assets, including sharia stocks," Sharia, Government Relations and Community Investment Director of Prudential Indonesia Nini Sumohandoyo.said.

The program is also aimed at supporting the government's effort to spur the growth of sharia economy which has large potential to develop, she said.

PRULink Syariah Rupiah Multi Asset Fund is sharia-based rupiah-denominated investment fund mix that gives customers access to more stable investment with diversified sharia domestic assets. (Antaranews)

Indonesia recorded 6,189 new COVID-19 cases in the past 24 hours, taking the total tally to 617,820 as of Sunday, according to the Task Force for COVID-19 Handling.

The task force said 4,460 people recovered from COID-19 infection, bringing the total recoveries to 505,836.

With the addition of 166 deaths, the death toll from the COVID-19 rose to 18,819.

The figure was based on the number of specimens examined on Sunday at 51,048. Hence, the number of specimens examined in Indonesia cumulatively reached 6,.382,379.

As of Sunday, the total number of suspected COVID-19 cases reached 63,598. The COVID cases are found in 510 districts and cities in the county's 34 provinces.

Jakarta reported the highest number of new infections at 1,298 in the 24 hours ending Sunday. This was followed by Central Java (917), West Java (855), East Java (791), South Sulawesi (312), East Kalimantan (227), Riau (18), Yogyakarta (151) Central Kalimantan (150) and Banten (136).

North Maluku reported less than 10 new cases, while Gorontallo saw no new case.

Central Java recorded the highest number of deaths at 48, followed by East Java at 47 and Jakarta at 16. (Antaranews)

Speaker of the House of Representatives Puan Maharani called on the government to make assurance of the safety and suitability of the COVID-19 vaccine that arrived in Indonesia for all people.

"In terms of the handling of the COVID-19 vaccine, the government must ensure that the vaccine is safe and suitable for use," Maharani noted in a speech at the Plenary Meeting for the Closing of Session Period II for the 2020-2021 Session Year at the Parliament Complex on Friday.

The House speaker believes that the existence of the COVID-19 vaccine can instill hopes of the COVID-19 pandemic ending soon among the Indonesian people.

According to Maharani, the government must extensively edify the public and raise awareness of the COVID-19 vaccine to offer greater clarity and understanding to all sections of Indonesian society.

Furthermore, the House speaker commended the hard work and mutual cooperation by the government, health workers, volunteers, and the community in battling the COVID-19 pandemic.

"However, an increase in the number of cases per day has set a new record, for which the government should immediately make stronger efforts to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and strengthen the implementation of health protocols," she remarked.

Maharani also urged the government to continually intensify the dissemination of information on discipline to implement health protocols as a precautionary measure against community congregations at certain locations ahead of the Christmas and New Year celebrations in 2021.

The House speaker noted that despite a reduction in the year-end holidays, the government should continue to take precautionary measures against an increase in transportation flows at the end of December.

"As the end of December approaches, there will be the Christmas 2020 and New Year 2021 celebrations. The government should ensure the implementation of health protocols, especially at airports, ports, terminals, and stations," she stated.

The House of Representatives earlier held a Plenary Meeting for the Closing of Session Period II for the 2020-2021 Session Year at the Parliament Complex on Friday. The single agenda of the plenary meeting was the closing speech delivered by Maharani.

After the plenary session, from December 12, 2020, to January 10, 2021, the House of Representatives will enter the Recess Period for the Second Session Period of the 2020-2021 Session Year. (Antaranews)