VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Indonesian footballers Mees Hilgers (left) and Calvin Verdonk (right) celebrate an equalizing goal scored by Ragnar Oratmangoen (center) against Bahrain in the FIFA World Cup 2026 Asian zone qualifiers in Riffa, Bahrain, on October 10, 2024. (ANTARA/HO-PSSI)

VOI News, Jakarta: Youth and Sports Minister Dito Ariotedjo stated that there is no reason for the national football teams of Indonesia and Bahrain to play their second head-to-head match of the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifiers outside Indonesia.

He made the statement in Jakarta on Friday following a request made by the Bahrain Football Association (BFA) to the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) to hold Bahrain's away game against Indonesia at a neutral venue due to security concerns.

As quoted by Antara News Agency on  Friday  (18/10) Ariotedjo emphasized that the scheduled game must take place in Indonesia, asserting that the country is well-prepared to host.

The minister noted that he has discussed the issue with chairperson of the Indonesian Football Association (PSSI), Erick Thohir, who has also confirmed that security for the match in Indonesia would be ensured.

Ariotedjo highlighted Indonesia's successful hosting of various international football matches, including the U-17 FIFA World Cup last year.

He warned that if the Bahrain team continued to refuse to play in Indonesia, the match would automatically be declared a victory for Indonesia.

The Garuda Squad on October 10, 2024, clinched one point from a 2-2 draw against Bahrain in the third match of the third round of the Asian zone qualifiers held in Riffa, Bahrain.

According to the home-away rule, Indonesia will host Bahrain in a game scheduled for March 25 next year.

However, the October 10 game which ended in a stalemate has been labeled unfair by many Team Indonesia supporters on account of a controversial timekeeping call made by Omani referee Ahmed Al Kahf.

Indonesia was leading 2-1 when the referee added six minutes of injury time, which was extended to the 99th minute for unknown reasons. Just seconds before the final whistle, Bahrain scored an equalizing goal.

In response, Indonesian fans flooded social media, storming the accounts of Al Kahf, BFA, and AFC to protest the controversial call. (Antara)

VOI News, Jakarta:  Candidates tipped for ministerial posts in the incoming Cabinet of President-elect Prabowo Subianto and Vice President-elect Gibran Rakabuming Raka will undergo a three-day orientation at the Military Academy in Magelang district, Central Java.

This was conveyed by two incumbent ministers in President Joko Widodo's government, who were summoned by Prabowo to his residence on Kertanegara Street, South Jakarta, as minister-designates.

"It has been announced that there will be outbound or bonding activities and briefings. However, I do not know the details yet," Minister of Industry Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita told reporters at the Presidential Palace, Jakarta, on Friday.

As reported by Antara News Agency on Friday (18/10) he conveyed that  he had been asked to be ready to take part in the planned activities.

Meanwhile, Minister of Communication and Informatics, Budi Arie Setiadi, informed that the orientation may last three days.

"If I am not mistaken, it (orientation) will be held for three days, from Friday to Sunday," he said.

As per reports, the ministerial candidates will undergo the orientation several days after being inaugurated at the Presidential Palace.

Prabowo, who is currently serving as Defense Minister, recently took steps to advance the formation of his incoming Cabinet.

On October 14 and 15, 2024, the President-elect invited over 100 figures tipped for ministerial and deputy ministerial posts as well as agency head positions to his Jakarta residence.

On October 16 and 17, the defense minister gathered them for a briefing at his residence in Hambalang, Bogor, West Java.

Prabowo will take his oath of office as the eighth President of Indonesia alongside Gibran as the 14th Vice President at the Parliamentary Complex, Jakarta, on Sunday (October 20). The ministerial inauguration is set to take place the day after. (Antara)

VOI News, Jakarta:  Candidates tipped for ministerial posts in the incoming Cabinet of President-elect Prabowo Subianto and Vice President-elect Gibran Rakabuming Raka will undergo a three-day orientation at the Military Academy in Magelang district, Central Java.

This was conveyed by two incumbent ministers in President Joko Widodo's government, who were summoned by Prabowo to his residence on Kertanegara Street, South Jakarta, as minister-designates.

"It has been announced that there will be outbound or bonding activities and briefings. However, I do not know the details yet," Minister of Industry Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita told reporters at the Presidential Palace, Jakarta, on Friday.

As reported by Antara News Agency on Friday (18/10) he conveyed that  he had been asked to be ready to take part in the planned activities.

Meanwhile, Minister of Communication and Informatics, Budi Arie Setiadi, informed that the orientation may last three days.

"If I am not mistaken, it (orientation) will be held for three days, from Friday to Sunday," he said.

As per reports, the ministerial candidates will undergo the orientation several days after being inaugurated at the Presidential Palace.

Prabowo, who is currently serving as Defense Minister, recently took steps to advance the formation of his incoming Cabinet.

On October 14 and 15, 2024, the President-elect invited over 100 figures tipped for ministerial and deputy ministerial posts as well as agency head positions to his Jakarta residence.

On October 16 and 17, the defense minister gathered them for a briefing at his residence in Hambalang, Bogor, West Java.

Prabowo will take his oath of office as the eighth President of Indonesia alongside Gibran as the 14th Vice President at the Parliamentary Complex, Jakarta, on Sunday (October 20). The ministerial inauguration is set to take place the day after. (Antara)

Grand Imam of Nabawi Mosque, Sheikh Ahmad bin Ali Al-Hudzaifi, speaks during his visit at UIN Syarief Hidayatullah University in South Tangerang, Banten, on October 10, 2024. (ANTARA FOTO/Muhammad Iqbal/aww/aa)

VOI News, Jakarta: The Imam of the Prophet's Mosque, Medina, Saudi Arabia, Shaykh Ahmad bin Ali Al-Hudzaify became the khatib and led Friday prayers at the Istiqlal Mosque in Jakarta, Friday (11/10).

The Grand Imam of the Istiqlal Mosque, Nasaruddin Umar, after his meeting with Shaykh Ahmad pointed out that he was happy because Shaykh Ahmad was willing to be the khatib. He also said that the Friday sermon delivered by Shaykh Ahmad in Arabic was the first time at the Istiqlal Mosque.

“...Istiqlal is again happy to receive an extraordinary great guest, the Grand Imam of the Medina Mosque, and at the same time became a khatib. Usually, our guests are only imams, but now he was willing to be the khatib as well. So,  approximately 50 years of the Istiqlal Mosque, this is the first time there is a khutbah in Arabic,” he conveyed.

Moreover, Grand Imam Nasaruddin Umar also explained that in the future, the Istiqlal Mosque will also receive special guests from abroad, namely  the Grand Imam of the Egyptian Al-Azhar Mosque, Ahmad Al-Thayyib.

Meanwhile, Shaykh Ahmad in his sermon expressed his admiration for Islam after seeing the faces of Muslims in Indonesia. He also admired the hospitality of the Indonesian people whom he said was not found in other countries. (VOI-Rama-Mar/AF-Rahmana)