VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Every February 21st, the world including Indonesia commemorates International Mother Language Day. For the Indonesian people, this commemoration is a right momentum to intensively protect and teach regional languages to children.

Indonesia is very rich in regional languages. The number of regional languages in Indonesia is the second largest in the world after Papua New Guinea. Based on data of Language Development Agency at the Ministry of Education and Culture, the number of regional languages spread in Indonesia per 2018 is 668 regional languages. Among the regional languages in Indonesia, there are three languages with more than 10 million speakers, namely Javanese (84.3 million speakers), Sundanese (34 million speakers), and Madurese language (13.6 million speakers).

The wealth of regional languages is a treasure and pride for Indonesia, because each language has its own uniqueness. The characteristics of social, cultural, economic, political and various aspects of the life of the Indonesian people are reflected in the language.

Therefore, efforts to protect and maintain the diversity of languages in Indonesia must continue. If not, there will be many regional languages that will become extinct or without speakers.

Based on data from the Language Agency, as many as 11 regional languages in Indonesia were declared extinct. There are 16 languages whose status is endangered. There are several causes of language extinction, including shrinking the number of speakers, large natural disasters, inter-tribal intermarriage, and the language attitude of speakers.

Real efforts are needed from both the community and the government to protect and maintain the diversity of languages in Indonesia. The regional governments need to make regulations to protect their respective regional languages. In Indonesia, there is only one regional regulation that regulates regional language protection, namely North Sumatra Province.

Efforts to develop, foster and protect regional languages are through not only legislation, but also efforts from individual speakers of regional languages. For example, the regional languages can be documented. Each individual needs to take the initiative to document the local language. The documentation is very necessary for its sustainability so that it does not become extinct. This is the right way to protect the cultural and intellectual heritage of Indonesia.

Over the last few weeks, prices of flight tickets in Indonesia have been very expensive. The situation was made worse by the elimination of promo tickets and paid baggage policies for some airlines. The increase in airplane ticket prices is quite surprising, because the peak season has passed, which should have dropped the price of airline tickets. But in low season, the price of airline tickets is still expensive.

After the government tried to overcome this problem, the price of airline tickets began to decline. However, the public considered the price of airline tickets to be still expensive.
Aviation corporations accuse the price of airplane fuel is very high, which is the reason for rising flight ticket prices. They say that Avtur prices in Indonesia are more expensive than abroad. As a result, the price of foreign airplane tickets from Indonesia abroad has become cheaper than domestic flight tickets abroad.

Compared to Southeast Asian countries, Avtur prices in Indonesia are actually classified as competitive, the third lowest recorded after Singapore and Malaysia. Compared to the selling price of Avtur at Changi Singapore, the price of Avtur in Cengkareng is indeed more expensive at around 5 to 10 percent. However, the difference in the Avtur price is due to the imposition of Sales Tax (VAT) on Avtur by 10 percent, while the Avtur price at Changi is not subject to VAT. If it is not subject to VAT, Avtur prices in Singapore and Indonesia should be equal. In addition, since November 2018 until mid-February 2019, Avtur prices in Indonesia have tended to fall, reaching 18.5 percent. The proportion of Avtur costs of 24 percent is indeed quite significant in the formation of ticket selling prices. However, when the Avtur price dropped to 18.5%, the price of airline tickets did not decline, but instead experienced an increase during low season in early January to mid-February, the Avtur prices are assumed to unfair.

Some observers suspect that there are price cartels from several major airlines that control flights in Indonesia. So now, it is the time for the government to control the corporate actions of a number of airlines, related to the policy of eliminating promo ticket prices and paid baggage.

Indonesian Business Competition Supervisory Commission (KPPU) needs to ensure that there are no price formation cartels from certain airlines. Without the efforts of the Government and KPPU, it is difficult for the public to expect airline ticket prices, which are burdensome for consumers, to be reduced in the near future.

Tourism Minister Arief Yahya lauded New York-based Travel and Leisure Magazine for including Lombok, Bali, and Java Islands in its article entitled the 15 Best Islands in the world.

"Hopefully, this could become a boost for NTB development, in general, and Gili Matra (Trawangan, Meno, Air), in particular, to attract local and foreign tourists," Yahya stated in Lombok on Thursday, while inaugurating the start of Ama-Lurra Resort construction in Gili Air, North Lombok District.

The magazine gave 93.88 score for Lombok Island, 94.06 for Bali Island, and 95.28 for Java Island.

"Also heralded for its seclusion, as well as its beaches, diving, and mountainous beauty, is Indonesia?s Lombok, an island just east of Bali that one reader dubbed `Romance Island.` In fact, Indonesia seems to have the joys of island life down to a science, laying claim to the top three spots people most enjoy visiting," Travel and Leisure wrote.

In addition, Yahya also lauded the construction of MotoGP circuit in Mandalika, Lombok.

The development of the first MotoGP circuit in Indonesia would strengthen the position of West Nusa Tenggara (NTB), which has so far been known as one of the best Halal tourist destinations in the world.

NTB Governor Zulkieflimansyah, on the occasion, expressed his gratitude to the government for being serious in developing the province, which was devastated by a deadly earthquake last year. (ant) 

 President Joko Widodo and First Lady Iriana Joko Widodo at around 16:40 local time (WS) arrived at National University Singapore (NUH) where Ms. Ani Yudhoyono was being treated. The arrival of the President and Mrs. Iriana was immediately welcomed by the first son of the 6th President of the Republic of Indonesia Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono and Mr. Hatta Rajasa. After that, the President and Mrs. Iriana went straight to the 8th floor, where Ms. Ani Yudhoyono was treated.

In the treatment room, the President and Mrs. Iriana were welcomed by SBY and Annisa Pohan. "Thank you for coming, Mr. President," said SBY. The President and Mrs. Iriana then saw Ms. Ani. "We and all Indonesian people pray for Ms. Ani recovery," said the President. After that, the President and Mrs. Iriana talked with SBY next to the treatment room. Also present at the meeting were Presidential Chief of Staff Moeldoko, Hatta Rajasa, youngest son of President Kaesang Pangarep, Agus Harimurti, and Annisa Pohan. At 5:20 p.m., the President and Mrs. Iriana, together with a limited group, left NUH to go to Singapore Changi International Airport to return directly to Jakarta. (biropers)