VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Tanjung Priok Port in Jakarta. ANTARA FOTO/Akbar Nugroho Gumay/rwa - 

Indonesia's economy is believed to clock a nearly seven-percent growth in the 2021 second quarter following an upward trend in the realization of foreign direct investments and consumer confidence index, a minister stated.

"Our economic growth rate indicates a positive trend. It is expected to reach seven percent," Coordinating Minister for Economy Airlangga Hartarto noted in a press statement that ANTARA quoted in Jakarta on Saturday.

As of March 2021, the realization of foreign direct investments had reached 54.6 percent, while the consumer confidence index of those, with expenses below Rp5 million, was recorded at 90.1, or had inched towards the normal zone of 100, the minister stated.

A positive trend was also apparent in the growth of Indonesia's exports and imports, gross fixed capital formation (GFCF), and the government spending, Hartarto pointed out.

A surge in the prices of commodities, such as palm oil, rubber, nickel, copper, and coal had also bolstered the government's endeavors to facilitate economic recovery.

Hartarto stated that the rising prices of those commodities had helped to improve the economic conditions of several regions during the first quarter of 2021.

A positive trend was observed in the economic conditions in the islands of Sumatra and Java, with growth rates of 0.86 percent and 0.83 percent respectively, the minister pointed out.

Similarly, certain parts of eastern Indonesia, such as Sulawesi and Papua, had clocked growth rates of 1.2 and 8.97 percent respectively, Hartarto remarked.

Coronavirus infections initially surfaced in the Chinese city of Wuhan at the end of 2019.

Since then, COVID-19 has spread to over 215 countries and territories, including 34 provinces of Indonesia, with a substantial rise in the number of deaths.

The Indonesian government officially confirmed the country's first cases on March 2 this year.

Since the early phases of this COVID-19 pandemic, which is undeniably recorded as a huge crisis in human history, the Indonesian government is sentient of its wide-ranging impacts on public health and the economy.

Hence, President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has made repeated calls to maintain a balance in pushing the brake and accelerator pedals for ably addressing the public health and economic crises.

In facing this reality, President Jokowi has appealed to the nation to have mental fortitude, as all countries, including Indonesia, are reeling from the public health and economic crises owing to the impacts of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic//ANT

Search and rescue workers distribute staple food and meal packages. (FOTO ANTARA/Firman) - 

Search and rescue (SAR) workers in South Kalimantan on Saturday continued to hand out staple food and meal packages to flood victims in five villages of Satui Sub-district, Tanah Bumbu District.

"For three consecutive days, we prioritize the distribution of staple food and meal packages to the flood victims," Head of the SAR Agency-Banjarmasin Office Slamet Riyadi remarked.

The flash floods, triggered by high-intensity rains on Wednesday, continue to submerge several houses in the villages of Sejahtera Mulia, Jombang, Sinar Bulan, Sungai Danau, and Satui Barat.

The floodwaters, reaching heights of between one meter and 1.5 meters, affected some 3,421 households, or 11,558 residents, Riyadi noted, adding that several of them had sought refuge in safer places.

The local authorities have built temporary shelters at a junior high school building in Sinar Bulan Village and a community hall in Sungai Danau Village for the displaced.

Riyadi noted that several residents were staying in their two-storied houses and not heeding to the rescuers’ suggestion to take refuge in safer places.

Various parts of Indonesia are prone to natural disasters. Within the initial two months of 2021, several hydrological disasters had struck the islands of Sumatra, Java, Kalimantan, and Sulawesi.

In Java Island, landslides had hit Cihanjuang Village in Cimanggung Sub-district, Sumedang District, West Java Province.

On February 6, flash floods inundated Semarang's Kota Lama (Old Town) neighborhood and several other areas of this capital city of Central Java Province.

The Indonesian government attributed extreme rainfall and tidal flooding to the flash floods submerging Semarang City.

Meanwhile, in Sumatra Island, flash floods and a landslide damaged seven homes and broke a bridge in Wih Ni Durin Village, Syiah Utama Sub-district, Bener Meriah District, Aceh Province, following incessant heavy rains in the Gayo highland area.

In the island of Kalimantan, massive floods and landslides also hit several parts of South Kalimantan Province following incessant downpour on January 12, 2021.

The floods affected the districts of Banjar, Tapin, Tabalong, Balangan, and Hulu Sungai Tengah and the cities of Tanah Laut and Banjar Baru.

The massive floods, triggered by incessant heavy rains, reportedly claimed 15 lives, swamped 24,379 houses, and displaced 39,549 people//ANT

Passengers at Senen Train Station in Jakarta. ANTARA FOTO/Dhemas Reviyanto/foc - 

Residents of Jakarta returning home after celebrating the Eid al-Fitr festivity in their hometowns outside the capital city must possess COVID-19-free certificates, according to the Jakarta police.

"Jakarta’s residents must show the results of rapid COVID-19 antigen tests that they have undergone in their hometowns," Jakarta Police spokesman Sen. Com. Yusri Yunus stated.

Police officers will start checking the COVID-19-free certificates of travelers heading to Jakarta on Sunday, Yunus noted in a statement that ANTARA quoted here, Saturday.

The impromptu checks on those returning to the capital city will be conducted at the KM 34 checkpoint of the Cikampek-Jakarta toll road and the Cikupa post, according to the spokesman.

Police officers will check the COVID-19-free certificates of those passing through the non-toll roads at the Jatiuwung and Kedungwaringin checkpoints, Yunus revealed.

If travelers are unable to show their COVID-19-free certificates, they will be required to undergo swab testing at the drive-through-rapid-antigen testing facilities, the spokesman explained.

However, to avoid traffic congestion, the travelers are required to undergo swab tests in their hometowns prior to their departure, Yunus clarified.

Traditionally, the Eid al-Fitr festivity is often regarded by Indonesian Muslims as a time to seek blessings and forgiveness from parents and to strengthen "silaturrahim," or the bonds of friendship.

However, in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic situation, Vice President Ma'ruf Amin had earlier called on Indonesian Muslims to uphold "silaturrahim" virtually.

Amin also urged the people at large in the country to continue the nation's collective fight against the COVID-19 pandemic by reducing their mobility for the safety of all.

"We do not want the endeavors that we have made over this past year to go in vain. Of course, the safety of our beloved must be prioritized and maintained together," he emphasized.

Amin highlighted the significance of keeping the spirit alive since behind any hardship, there is always relief.

The novel coronavirus disease outbreak initially struck the Chinese city of Wuhan in 2019 and then spread to various parts of the world, including countries in the Asia-Pacific region.

The Indonesian government announced the country's first confirmed cases on March 2, 2020.

Since then, the central and regional governments have made persistent efforts to flatten the coronavirus curve by imposing healthcare protocols and social restrictions.

To break the chain of transmission of COVID-19, which has impacted the purchasing power of scores of families in Indonesia, the government banned homebound travel, or "mudik," ahead of this year's Eid al-Fitr holiday season akin to last year.

The Health Ministry has also confirmed the entry of three new coronavirus variants originating from India, South Africa, and the Great Britain into Indonesia//ANT

Flooding in West Woyla, Aceh, on May 15. 2021 - 

Flooding caused by unremitting heavy rainfall and the overflowing of several rivers submerged 14 villages in West Aceh District, Aceh Province, the Aceh Disaster Mitigation Office (BPBA) stated.

Aceh BPBA Head Ilyas stated here on Saturday that Alue Kuyun in East Woyla Sub-district, Napai, Alue Leuhop, Blang Luah, Cot Rambong, Pasi Malee, Lhok Malee, Blang Cotmameh, Lubok Pasi Ara, Peuleukueng, Kulam Kaju, Cot Lagan Lm, Blang Cot Rubek, and Ulee Pasi Ara in West Woyla Sub-district were affected by the flooding.

Floodwaters, reaching heights of between 30 centimeters and a meter, swamped residential areas and roads since Friday at 23:00 local time, he remarked.

The flooding affected 152 families in Alue Kuyun, East Woyla. However, the floodwaters began receding on Saturday.

In West Woyla, flooding forced several people to take refuge on higher ground, as their homes got submerged in the floodwaters.

Flooding also hit Lhung Geulumpang Village, Kuala Batee Sub-district, Southwest Aceh District, on Friday.

"Floods due to heavy rainfall in Southwest Aceh inundated residential areas and roads up to 40 centimeters high," he stated//ANT