VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Deputy House Speaker M. Azis Syamsuddin (DPR RI)

Drugs, cybercrimes, and terrorism are the three models of crimes that threaten and erode the Unitary Republic of Indonesia, according to Deputy House Speaker M. Azis Syamsuddin.

In addition to corroding the strength and ideals of the nation, the three models of crimes have emerged as illicit businesses that are apparent to the naked eye, Syamsuddin noted in a press statement released on Friday.

The deputy house speaker made the remarks after observing the scene of the suicide bombing attack outside Cathedral Church and visiting victims of the bomb blast at the Bhayankara Police Hospital in Makassar, the capital of South Sulawesi Province.

"The three models of crimes thrive. Every day, we watch one of the three models of crimes on television. This is a fact. Remember that drugs and cyberterrorism are not merely international crimes but also transnational crimes," he pointed out.Tolerance of national values, which lay down the foundation, may erode due to massive drug abuse, cybercrimes, and terrorism. The group of people, who run the illicit business, modify packages daily.

"One of the characteristics is that they are able to change themselves while committing crimes. That is the point I have observed," he noted.

The three models of crimes are apparent from the arrest of the courier to the drug lord. Every day, hate speeches appear on social media, thereby leading to the reporting of the case to the police.

"To make things worst, the act of terror spreads, claims the lives of people, and instills a sense of fear among members of the public," he noted.

The emergence of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) that claimed responsibility for various suicide bombing cases in several parts of Indonesia is not a new phenomenon, Syamsuddin remarked.The syndicate was formed through affiliation with the Jamaah Anshar Daulah (JAD) group or individual that does not structurally bind is an outstanding cycle, he stated.

"If we link the Makassar case to the terror acts and the arrest of suspected terrorists in several parts of the country as well as the terror act at the National Police Headquarters, we have sufficient evidence to state that the crimes increasingly erode the energy of the nation," Syamsuddin added.

It has an impact not only on the economy but also on the people's rights to live in the era of democracy. The models of crimes also attempt to change the legislation at the international and national levels//ANT

Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Arifin Tasrif (center) gives a statement to the press in Indramayu, West Java, on Saturday (April 3, 2021). ANTARA/Khaerul Izan/sh

The fire that engulfed PT Pertamina's refinery in Balongan, Indramayu District, West Java, could be fully extinguished, and the state-run company is conducting a cooling down process, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Arifin Tasrif stated.

"Alhamdulillah (thank God) the fire had been put out," Tasrif noted here on Saturday.

The minister remarked that the fire, initially erupting shortly after midnight of Monday (March 29), was extinguished in all four affected storage units on Wednesday (March 31). However, hours later, the fire re-surfaced in the units.

Tasrif explained that the fire broke out for the second time when the remaining hot oil came in direct contact with the air.

PT Pertamina will continue the cooling down process, he noted. "It continues to work on cooling down the remaining oil (in the storage)," the minister stated.The fire erupted on Monday (Mar 29), forcing Pertamina to shut the plant and evacuate some 950 nearby residents. Six were offered treatment at the hospital owing to the fire.

The company noted that seven percent of the refinery's 1.35 million kiloliters (KL) of storage capacity was affected, and that the tanks that caught fire were holding some 23 thousand KL of gasoline.

However, it made assurance that the national fuel stocks remained secure, and any shortage of fuel to Jakarta, which Balongan supplies, could be made up by refineries in Cilacap and Tuban//ANT

Industry Minister Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita. (ANTARA/ Biro Humas Kementerian Perindustrian)

The Industry Ministry is encouraging the manufacturing industry to embrace technological transformation to usher sustainable development through the concept of green industry.

The concept of green industry calls for the efficient use of resources, recycling of materials, application of environmentally friendly and sustainable processes, and utilization of waste as an alternative energy source.

"Since 2010, the Industry Ministry has bestowed green industry awards upon industries in the country," Industry Minister Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita said at the Grand Seminar Indonesia Chemical Engineering Challenge (IChEC) 2021, held online on Saturday.

The implementation of an efficient energy program in the industrial sector is equal to Rp3.5 trillion and the efficient use of water is equal to Rp229 billion in savings, he said."This suggests that the application of the concept has a positive impact on the economy," he remarked.

The recycling industry has developed in Indonesia for quite a long time, and covers recycling of plastic, lubricant, paper, textile, and metal. The recycling industry has contributed to creating a circular economy and helping reduce waste, the minister pointed out.

"Nearly 913 thousand tons of plastic waste are processed every year into a variety of value added products, with economic potential reaching more than Rp10 trillion per year and potential export of derivative products from recycling process reaching US$141.9 million," he said.

The minister said about 600 large-scale industries and 700 small-scale industries across Indonesia are engaged in the recycling of plastic waste, with combined investment of Rp7.15 trillion and production capacity of 2.3 million tons per year//ANT

Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan at the launch of the Indonesia With MSME Campaign on Saturday (April 4, 2021). ANTARA/HO-Coordinating Ministry for Maritime Affairs and Investment

Coordinating Maritime Affairs and Investment Minister Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan has encouraged the public to purchase products manufactured domestically as a mark of support to micro, small, and medium-scale enterprises (MSME).

At the launch of Indonesia With MSME Campaign on Saturday, the minister noted that in 2020 alone, four million MSMEs had promoted their products through the online platform.

Thus, the number of MSMEs using the online platform reaches 13 million, and the ministry has targeted to increase the number to 30 million by 2023.

The campaign was conducted in line with the Proud of Indonesian Product Movement (Gernas BBI) centered in West Java in April 2021.

"This is a huge challenge for us. We also link it to the domestic content requirement and to use as many domestic products as we can. It will become the backbone of our economy," Pandjaitan, who attended the event virtually from Toba Samosir District, North Sumatra, emphasized.

The minister noted that of the total Rp1,300 trillion of capital expenditure, Indonesia managed to save Rp250 trillion to purchase domestic products"We can use this. I have reported it to President Joko Widodo, and he encouraged us to become more creative. We can reduce imports and create more jobs," he affirmed.

Pandjaitan has commended the Cooperative, Small and Medium-Scale Enterprises Ministry and lauded the support of Bank Indonesia and the West Java administration in holding the event.

The minister shared his optimism to achieving the target of onboarding 6.1 million MSMEs and 12 million users of the QR Code Indonesian Standard (QRIS) digital payment by 2021-end.

Attendees at the launch comprised Cooperative, Small, and Medium Scale Enterprises Minister Teten Masduki, West Java Governor Ridwan Kamil, Deputy Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy Angela Tanoesoedibjo, and BI Governor Perry Warjiyo//ANT