VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Towards Ramadhan or on every religious activity, every region has tradition to celebrate it. One of them is in West Sumatera, especially  Minangkabau with its Malamang tradition. Malamang tradition has a meaning “to make Lemang”. Lemang is food is made from glutinous rice, and put into bamboo which is coated by young banana leaf. Then, it is baked on fire. Usually, Lemang is served with tapai or black sticky rice which has been fermented.  Lemang will be served to the guests in traditional event. Malamang activity can be found almost throughout  Minangkabau region. In Minang tradition, Malamang can be done in mutual cooperation and is not done by oneself for personal interest.  The tradition is part of habit which is done together by community or relatives’ group. The implementation of Malamang tradition is conducted for certain interest during several days before the month of Ramadhan coming, or other traditional events. To welcome Ramadhan as important event in forgiveness event, Lemang is served when welcoming the guests. Lemang service is as snack considered as honorable to the guests. Meanwhile, for the people of Minangkabau, Malamang tradition is conducted to commemorate the day of the death, 40 days of the death or hundred days of the death. The purpose is not different from other events, namely to welcome the guests.

National awakening is a moment of arousing the sense and spirit of unity, nationalism and awareness to fight for the independence of a country. In Indonesia, the National Awakening is commemorated every May 20th. 110 years ago, precisely in 1908, Dr. Soetomo and several students of STOVIA, the School of Doctor Education in the Dutch colonial era, founded a youth organization called ‘Boedi Oetomo’.Forty years later or in 1948, President Sukarno set May 20th as the insurgence day of nationalism.

Boedi Oetomo is a social, economic and cultural organization instead of political one. The establishment of Budi Utomo became the beginning of a movement aimed at achieving Indonesian independence. Boedi Oetomo became a marker that the Indonesian people for the first time realized the importance of unity. Being united is a key word when Indonesians want to achieve noble ideals. Boedi Oetomo has provided an example of how to assemble and organize without seeing the matters related to tribes, religions and groups. At the end, all of these could encourage the growing spirit of nationalism that became the main engine of achieving independence.

What would happen if awareness of being united did not nurture among the Indonesian people at the time?  Now, a hundred and ten years later, the Indonesian nation has grown into a great and developing nation, parallel to some countries. The people of Indonesia have enjoyed the results of their heroes’ struggle in the form of improved economy, health, and education. Boedi Oetomo was established by several people who were aware of the importance of being united. From those people, the occurrence of unity spread to become a capital for the Indonesian nation and finally, this achieved independence. If 110 years ago, the Indonesian people who did not have anything but the spirit, could be united to achieve the common goal, namely independence.

Thus now, the spirit of being united must keep being enlivened. More importantly, Indonesia is going to carry out political years: Regional Head Election (Pilkada) in 2018 and Presidential Election in 2019 that are vulnerable to pose conflicts due to differences of choice among Indonesian people.

Jakarta Team with nickname ‘the Kemayoran Tiger’, Persija Jakarta failed to overcome Home United with score 1-3 in live dead match AFC Cup at Gelora Bung Karno Main Stadium, Senayan in Jakarta on Tuesday night (15/5). In first match, Coach Teco’s team tried to hit the midfield and backfield, even though Mohammad Faizal retained Ismed Sofyan’s attack. Good fortune this time was in Marko Simic who got a penalty kick on the 9th minute at once Persija winning 1-0 over Singapore team Home United FC that used black and white costume. The excellence of Jakarta and the surrounding community's favorite team was beyond expectation, thwarted by player number 10 Home United FC, Syahrir Ishak who at once equalized to be 1-1. Being thirsty for scoring in Home United player who coached by Aidil Sharin Sahak was shown when Sharir was able to present a second goal for his team with score 2-1. Toward the final minutes, there was a crisis in goalpost of Muhammad Rizky, so the rear pillar Persija conceded. The goal was scored by Song Uiyong; this changed the situation to 3-1. One minute later, there were two red cards from referee Turki Mohammed from Saudi Arabia to Jaimerson Da Silva Xavier and the substitute player, Daryono reduced the power on this orange team. With this defeat, Persija failed to the semifinal AFC Cup, while Home United already won twice in the same event. After the match, Coach Teco said, his team had not been lucky, and the referee was not fair.

Indonesia Rock Climbing is wary of competition from three teams in the 2018 Asian Games competition to be held in Palembang in August. This was stated by Secretary General of Indonesian Rock Climbing Federation (IRCF), Sapto Hardiono in welcoming national rock climbing athletes at Soekarno-Hatta Airport, Cengkareng, Tangerang on Tuesday. However, Sapto said that Indonesian rock climbing team only needs to maintain the physical condition of its athletes besides increasing the speed of climbing during the competition. The team, according to Sapto, had evaluated the performance of the athletes after following three series of Rock Climbing World Cup in Russia and China on April 21 up to May 13. He added that the IRCF trainers asked the athletes not to force themselves when practicing in order to focus on the competition. The team plans to hold an exercise in Palembang after the Lebaran holiday following the adjustment to the conditions of the Asian Games competition arena. Previously, gold medalist rock-climbing athlete in the World Cup series in Chongqing, China, Aries Susanti Rahayu said that the strength of the Indonesian team is equivalent to teams from other countries in Rock Climbing World Cup series in Russia and China. For competition in the Asian Games, heavy rivalry comes from China, Iran and Kazakhstan, while for world championship, there are Russia, France, and many others. The Indonesia Rock Climbing Team won one gold medal, three silver medals, and three bronze medals in three series of Rock Climbing World Cup 2018 in Russia and China. In Rock Climbing World Cup in Moscow, Russia on April 21-22, Red-White team won bronze medal on behalf of Veddriq Leonardo on the speed world record. Then, in World Cup in Chongqing, China on May 5-7, Indonesian team won one gold medal by Aries Susanti Rahayu, one silver medal by Aspar Jaelolo, and one bronze medal by Puji Lestari. Last, in World Cup in Tai’an, China on May 12-13, Indonesian team won two silver medals and one bronze medal. The silvers presented by Sabri and Agustina Sari, while the bronze was presented by Aries Susanti Rahayu.

Ahead of the  Asian Games 2018, Indonesia will get another chance to hold MXGP 2018 motocross world championship in Semarang (July 7-8) and Pangkal Pinang (June 30-July 1). This event, according to Minister of Youth and Sports Imam Nahrawi, is very appropriate to promote the Asian Games and Asian Para Games to the world. Minister of Youth and Sports, Imam Nahrawi said that Indonesia has opportunity twice in organizing MXGP 2018 in one year. This is a history as well as an opportunity for national crossers to prove their ability and promote tourism potential, especially in Bangka Belitung and Semarang. It is also as a good start of the Asian Games and Asian Para Games 2018. Minister Imam Nahrawi  at press meeting at Ministry of Youth and Sports media center, Senayan in Jakarta on Monday (14/5) said that the government would keep supporting and coordinating with other stakeholders so that the MXGP opportunity becomes sport tourism and attract foreign tourists to come to Indonesia. Head of the Central Board of the Association of Motor Indonesia, Sadikin Aksa said that Indonesia was believed to be one of two countries with Italy that received two series of MXGP 2018 championship. The national crossers for MXGP 2018 currently have not been able to move to world class. They still have to follow the race in the European series. Indonesia has eight crossers for MXGP wildcard class, namely four in MX1 and four in MX2. While for 12 container 40 feet trip, the competitor will depart from Pangkal Pinang to Semarang through road trip. It is more efficient than using sea-lanes.  

Head of Department of Youth and Sports in Riau, Doni Aprialdi stated that the fire-torch of Asian Games 2018 will stop on August 1-2 in Riau to parade around the city of Pekanbaru and Siak. Riau is the 27th lane where the Asian Games torch fire passes after starting on July 15 in Delhi, India and on the 18^th lane into the province of Indonesia. Doni said in Pekanbaru on Wednesday that the Asian Games 2018 torch will travel around Indonesia, including Riau Province and a number of countries. To arrive in Pekanbaru on August 1^st, the torch will head to Siak regency. Then, on August 2^nd, the torch will be paraded around Pekanbaru for 2-3 hours, then heading to West Sumatra. According to Doni, Siak as one of Fire Torch Tour Relay destinations aims to develop tourism in Indonesia. He invited all people of Riau to welcome and enliven the Asian Games torch upon arrival in Riau Province. He added that the torch will be an unforgettable history for Riau. Thus, the people are expected to greet the Asian Games enthusiastically. The Torch Tour Relay Asian Games 2018 involves 10 athletes from Riau to parade, while Riau athletes who will involve in the Asian Games 2018 are 20 people.

The capital city of Indonesia, Jakarta exactly on June 22 will commemorate its 491^st anniversary. As in previous years, Jakarta’s anniversary celebration will be enlivened by the holding of Jakarta Fair. Jakarta metropolitan city will again hold annual mega shows for one month through Jakarta Fair Kemayoran 2018 or also known as Pekan Raya Jakarta (PRJ) 2018 which will take place on 24 May - 1 July 2018 at Jakarta International Expo Kemayoran, North Jakarta. Jakarta Fair Kemayoran or Pekan Raya Jakarta (PRJ) 2018 is the 51st event held since 1968. Originally, it was called ‘Pasar Gambir’ held at Lapangan Merdeka in colonial era called Koningsplein. The exhibition has been moved to the present location at the Jakarta International Expo in Kemayoran. In addition to the inaugural exhibition of all types of products made in Indonesia, Jakarta Fair consistently maintains its original concept of Night Market Fair which offers recreation, shopping and fun for the whole family. Currently, PRJ has become a national icon and enters in the top 100 Wonderful Indonesia events. As usual, Jakarta Fair Kemayoran or Pekan Raya Jakarta (PRJ) will feature pavilions from the provincial governments, companies and small and medium enterprises. Various excellent products from all business scale will fill the booths and pavilions at Jakarta International Expo Kemayoran. The exhibition will also be featured with art performances to entertain visitors, ranging from spectacular music performances from top artists of the country, Miss Jakarta Fair Beauty Pageant, Carnival, and many others. This year, there will be more than 2,500 booths and pavilions featuring some of the best products on the market as well as attractive discount offers. Many products offered at this festival are fashion and textiles, household goods, electronic equipment, gadgets, autos, handicrafts, health products, and many more. Jakarta Fair Kemayoran 2018 has the theme "Jakarta Participates in Success in MICE Indonesia in National Economic Development Process". The theme is chosen because Jakarta Fair Kemayoran is one of the largest multiplier exhibition events in Indonesia, even in Southeast Asia. It is also one of the benchmarks of MICE industry development in Indonesia. It is expected that from JFK 2018, it creates the spirit of trade promotion and industrial innovation that always color the event. In addition, JFK is expected to help open employment for the community, as well as improve the volume of national economy which ultimately contributes to the welfare of all Indonesian people.