VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Muslim-based United Development Party (PPP) will invite Hamas leader Ismail Haniya to come to Indonesia to explain the current situation in Palestine.

"We have limited access to information about Palestine. It is hoped that the presence of the Hamas leader would help us understand the future better," PPP general chairman Romahurmuzy stated here, when receiving Hamas representative for Asia, Muslim Imran, on Wednesday.

In a press statement received here on Thursday, Imran, who is also the chief of Palestinian Cultural Organization Malaysia (PICOM) based in Kuala Lumpur, met Romahurmuzy to deliver a two-page long letter in Arabic language from Haniya. He also conveyed Haniya`s best regards and requested PPP`s support for the recognition of Palestinian independence. Imran noted that the diplomatic struggle of Islamic countries would be stronger with people-to-people and party-to-party support, adding that after receiving support from Malaysian political parties, it was now time for Hamas to seek support from PPP, which is the oldest Islamic party in the country.

"PPP welcomes the invitation for cooperation with Hamas, and in connection with that, we would invite Ustadz (teacher) Haniya to visit Indonesia. We believe his presence would strengthen the solidarity and serve as a diplomatic solution not only between state officials but also between political parties," Romahurmuzy remarked.

The PPP leader reaffirmed the party`s support to Palestinian independence. Through its representatives in the parliament and the government, he revealed that PPP would continue to assure that all diplomatic efforts would be taken to make Palestine`s independence recognized across the world. He added that PPP would initiate a Palestinian cultural organization, similar to the PICOM in Indonesia, in cooperation with other political parties.

On the occasion, Romahurmuzy expressed deep concern and condemned the acts of violence committed by Israel in the past three days, which have left 17 people dead. He also conveyed PPP`s rejection of US President Donald Trump`s declaration to unilaterally shift Israel`s capital from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. ( antara )

Lauhin Mahfudz and Ahmad Farhan Tsani of Indonesia finished second behind the Philippines in the international Qur`an recitation competition held in Cairo, Egypt. A statement from Mahfudz received by ANTARA in Takengon, Aceh on Thursday noted that the final Qur`an recital took place on April 4, 2018. 

Only two countries were found worthy of winning the first and second place in the Qur`an recitation competition. The Indonesian participants managed to enter the final round along with other competitors from three countries: Malaysia, the Philippines, and Nigeria. Some 20 countries participated in the Sharhil Qur`an category. Sharhil Qur`an is a technique of reading the Qur`an by revealing the content, translations, and descriptions in harmonious unity.

Mahfudz and Tsani are alumni of the Raudhatul Hasanah Islamic boarding school in Medan, North Sumatra. Mahfudz hails from Takengon, Central Aceh District, while Tsani is from Medan, North Sumatra. Both are currently studying at the Al Azhar University, Cairo. Mahfudz had studied religion at the Islamic State University Ar Raniry in Banda Aceh in the Department of Al Quran tafsir before being accepted as a student of Al Azhar in 2016.

Central Aceh Regent Shabela Abubakar expressed full support to Mahfudz via a video call ahead of the final. Abubakar expressed moral support and hope that Mahfudz would give his best for Indonesia at the event. (antara)

The House of Representatives -DPR has officially appointed Perry Warjiyo as Governor of Bank Indonesia –BI for the period 2018 - 2023 in a plenary session taking place last Tuesday (3rd of April). Perry Warjiyo's appointment process was quite smooth, because after undergoing a fit and proper test by Commission XI at the DPR, 10 factions were actively approving the single candidate proposed by President Joko Widodo. This means that all factions in the House were fully confident of Perry Warjiyo's capacity to become the new governor of Bank Indonesia for the next 5 years.

Indeed, Perry Warjiyo, who was a farmer and born 59 years ago in Sukoharjo, Central Java, will only serve his governorship of Bank Indonesia on next May 23rd, 2018, after the current position of Governor of Bank Indonesia, Agus Martowardoyo officially ends. However, a lot of homework and expectations are waiting for the man who has started his career at Bank Indonesia since 1984. Moreover, the performance of Bank Indonesia over the last 5 years under the leadership of Agus Martowardoyo is considered successful enough to maintain the national economic stability of the global economic turmoil. Perry Warjiyo will continue Bank Indonesia’s leadership which over the last five years has received a good "label" both domestically and globally. Even last year, Governor Agus Martowardoyo was awarded as the best central bank governor in Asia Pacific based on an international institution.

Thus, Warjiyo must be able to prove that President Joko Widodo's choice of him is not wrong. Perry must prove the trust of the DPR and must be able to prove that he can work better than the performance of the previous governor of BI. Certainly, we do hope that for a few decades of experience as an internal man of Bank Indonesia, and having held the position of one of IMF International Monetary Fund Executive Directors, Perry Warjiyo will be able to answer the expectations of many stakeholders. Maintaining the monetary conditions in the country becomes one of the heavy tasks faced by Perry. Macro-economic stability, inflation control and rupiah exchange rate will be the wishes of all stakeholders to be maintained. At the same time, another severe task is how Bank Indonesia can support policies that encourage Indonesian economic growth.

Maintaining the influence of the global economic turmoil is also a serious challenge to be faced by Perry Warjiyo when later he officially serves as governor of Bank Indonesia. Trade war that has occurred between the United States and China more recently may bring about impact on the domestic and regional economy. Perhaps, the closest challenges to be faced Perry Warjiyo as the new chief of Bank Indonesia are the simultaneous elections and the stages ahead of the legislative and presidential elections. In these political years -2018 and 2019, the stability of the rupiah, the stability of the economy and the enormous amount of money in circulation must be maintained in order not to influence the implementation of the democratic festivity. May the great hope of the new governor of Bank Indonesia be realized for monetary stability and positive economic growth! Congratulations to Mr. Perry Warjiyo! (danang prabowo)

South Africa is in mourning. Monday April 2, 2018, Winnie Mandela, the country’s  human rights advocate,  passed away. Though her admirers already knew that she  had long been ill, her departure at the age of 81, still made South African people sad. Mandela family spokesman, Victor Diamini, Monday afternoon local time reported that Winnie Mandela had died at the age of 81 years. At the last moment of her life the mother of two were surrounded  by her family, who sent  her to God in peace. Without being told to, South African people  including  political figures and officials flooded the residence of the late Winni, in the town of Soweto, once a base of her struggle with her husband, Nelson Mandela.

For South Africa, in particular, Winnie Mandela ne Madikiezela who was born  in 1936, is a symbol of the struggle against tyranny. In addition, the wife of the late Nelson Mandela, is a woman who was very loyal and committed to her husband’s fight  against injustice in South Africa. When her husband was in jail for about 3 decades, Winnie kept  the family survived while continuing  the struggle. Together with her husband,  she fought  against the apartheid regime at the time. When Nelson Mandela was in prison, Winnie continued the spirit of resistance against the pro-apartheid  South African regime. Not only her husband  Nelson  who was imprisoned by the ruling government. Winnie was also put behind  bars and had to struggle hard   against intimidation.

The outstanding woman was destined to live the life of her youth as a fighter. Since adolescent Winnie had been  trained as a social worker and cared about the environment and the suffering of others.

In a televised statement, South African President Cyrril Ramaphosa praised the late Winnie Mandela and called her  the voice of the oppressed. In times of oppression and exploitation, Nelson Mandela's wife  was a champion in the struggle for justice and equality.

Nobel Peace Prize laureate, Bishop Desmond Tutu declared Winnie Mandela a true symbol of the struggle against apartheid.

Winnie Mandela's journey of life, struggle and tenacity inspired activists and movements against tyranny and injustice.